Darlington's pothole problem exposed
Around £1.5 million has been spent on repairing more than twenty five thousand potholes on Darlington roads in the past four years.
Hundreds of potholes are reported by residents on an annual basis, with 3,147 recorded by Darlington Borough Council since 2020.
Last year saw the highest number of potholes reported – 978 – compared to 349 the previous year. That figure is set to be surpassed, as new figures show 676 were reported this year up to March.
Data obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service shows the local authority repairs significantly more potholes compared to the amount reported. The data shows 25,688 potholes have been repaired since 2020. A total of £1,491,896 on fixing potholes between 2020-2024 to date.
Compensation totalling £6,176 has been paid out to claimants who have reported vehicle damage to the council due to potholes and road defects in the same time period. Darlington Borough Council’s investigatory level for a pothole is 4cm depth and 30cm width.
Potholes have also affected members of the council, as deputy leader Chris McEwan recently revealed the spring broke in his car due to the rugged state of the roads.
The town has become almost synonymous with potholes since the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, was pictured pointing at one alongside Peter Gibson MP, Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen and Cllr Jonathan Dulston in April 2023.
But the town’s roads were rocky long before the prime minister’s comical photo op, as the data shows. And earlier this year, the council warned it has a £78 million road maintenance backlog – with a budget of just £2.7million available to spend on networks including roads, pathways, cycle routes and bridges.
The town’s Conservative MP, Peter Gibson, praised his ‘pothole patrol’ social media campaign which highlights the worst road defects in Darlington.
He said: “I’m being contacted about potholes in Darlington on a daily basis. It’s clear to see that the Council just needs to crack on with fixing our potholes.
“I recently launched a campaign to highlight potholes in Darlington, where I personally photograph the worst and send them to the council for comment and action.
“The Government has recently increased highways funding to Darlington Borough Council by over £5 million pounds, including increased funding available to deal with potholes. So with the extra money they have been given, they just get on with it.”
Darlington Borough Council has been contacted for comment.
An initial list has been published of the roads which are set to benefit from repairs thanks to the reallocation of HS2 cash in the region.
Full list of road repairs:
Alwyn Road Banks Road Barrett Road Bisley Court Blackwell Close Blackwell Grove Brunton Street Cannobie Close Carmel Grove Chepstow Court Church Lane – Sadberge Cleveland Terrace Coombe Drive Derby Street Eldon Place Eldon Street Fulthorpe Grove Headingley Crescent Holwick Road Hopetown Lane Hundens Lane Hundens Lane, West Bank Judith Close Kielder Drive Lodge Lane to Brafferton Longfield Road Mallory Court Marshall Street Maxwell Close Neasham Road – Middleton One Row to Neasham Neasham Hill to Neasham Parkland Drive Progress Way Ramsey Walk Roundhill Road Sockburn Lane to Neasham Station Road Strait Lane, Hurworth Temperance Place Warwick Square West Green, Heighington Westlands Road