'Please bear with us': Northamptonshire councils respond to growing pothole crisis
Record rainfall and winter conditions blamed for surge in pothole problems across the county
In response to ongoing resident concerns about potholes affecting travel and causing vehicle damage, both North and West Northamptonshire councils say they are working urgently to address significant road maintenance challenges across the region.
Corby mechanic, Nadia Kosowska, said the potholes this year are the ''worst'' she has seen. She said the road damage is causing challenges to her usual work commute.
She explained: ''I have to hit at least 3 of them potholes because there's no way of me avoiding them – if I try to avoid them, I'd be swerving into the opposite lane of traffic, or I'd end up damaging my car as some of them are really deep.''
Cllr Chris McGiffen, Executive Member for Highways and Travel at North Northamptonshire Council (NNC), shared the council's ongoing strategies to improve road conditions:
“We’re running significantly more resources across the whole area to deal with temporary repairs so we can stabilise the network.”
''Recent weather events, coupled with 20 years of under-investment, are causing significant road damage''
McGiffen added: “We’ve had record rainfall and a constant freeze–thaw cycle, which has created a unique set of problems across the network.”
NNC has deployed new equipment and technologies to accelerate repairs, with local teams focused on emergency road issues. McGiffen explained:
"We're doing an awful lot. I've got five teams out just doing emergency repairs. Defects are graded from priority one to priority four, and we're managing them efficiently under normal circumstances."
''We are spending a chunk of money on major roads this year. People in Corby will be pleased to know that Steel Road will be completely refinished this year.'' He added.
Residents are advised to report road issues using the council's Highways Online Reporting Tool, which provides more efficient communication compared to third-party services like Fix My Street.
"We find Fix My Street about 80% effective, but our tool is faster," Cllr McGiffen explained. "Historically, it's been the main route, but we now offer a more direct option."
Despite challenges, NNC remains committed to transitioning from temporary patches to more substantial improvements:
"I apologise for how things are," Cllr McGiffen continued. "We’re holding contractors to best practice, planning more major road spend, and we're asking everyone to please bear with us."
''I just ask people to give us a chance to get over this hum''
Upcoming projects like the Steel Road refurbishment in Corby are planned to enhance road conditions, even as resources are spread thin.
Cllr McGiffen emphasised the financial constraints: "My share of the roads is about £200 million, yet I've got record funding of £11 million. We're spreading resources thin but aiming for lasting change."
Meanwhile, West Northamptonshire Council faces similar pressures. Cllr Richard Butler, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, explained their approach:
"Recent wet and freezing weather has caused rapid deterioration across the road network, so we’re prioritising the most urgent, safety‑critical repairs.
“In some areas, our crews are carrying out temporary emergency patches to make locations safe quickly, and they’ll return to complete more permanent repairs as soon as conditions allow.
Both councils emphasise the importance of public reporting through various platforms to identify new issues and prioritise repairs based on safety.
Cllr Butler has urged residents to remain patient as teams work through the growing number of reports. He also stressed that the council relies heavily on the public to flag new issues as they appear.
“We’re asking everyone to report any issues they’re aware of – please don’t assume we already know about them.''
To report potholes in West Northamptonshire visit www.westnorthants.gov.uk and for North Northamptonshire visit www.northnorthants.gov.uk