Blaenau Gwent Council has responded to growing concern over road conditions across the borough, as potholes continue to rise following one of the wettest Januarys on record.
The council said it understands residents’ frustration and shares their concerns, with highways teams working flat out every day to resurface, patch and make roads safe. While temporary repairs are being carried out where needed, longer term fixes and resurfacing works have already taken place, with more scheduled.
After years of budget cuts for local government, councils across the UK are now facing the impact of sustained under investment in highways. Year on year reductions in funding have meant difficult decisions had to be made to protect essential services such as care for vulnerable residents and education.
The council said the condition of local roads is now a national issue and not one unique to Blaenau Gwent.
The recent weather has added further pressure. It has been one of the wettest Januarys on record, with BBC weatherman Derek Brockway highlighting nearby Blaenavon as the wettest place in Wales during the month. Heavy rainfall, particularly on higher ground, seeps into small cracks in the road surface. When temperatures drop, the water freezes, expands and breaks up the surface, creating weak spots where potholes form more quickly.
In January alone, 601 potholes were reported to the council, compared with 226 in the same month last year, a 165 per cent increase. During 2025, a total of 11,695 pothole repairs were completed across the borough in line with guidance and legislation.
The persistent rain has slowed down permanent repairs and the council acknowledged that quick fixes can sometimes appear inefficient. However, it said there are occasions when temporary work is essential to keep roads safe.
Alongside its annual highways budget, the council is investing an additional £5.4 million over the next five years to improve local roads. Around 80 roads are set to be resurfaced, funded through £3.2 million in additional capital investment and £2.2 million from the Welsh Government’s Local Government Borrowing Initiative.
The council said it has been a long and rough winter, but expects that when conditions improve, the extra investment and ongoing repair work will start to make a visible difference.
Residents are encouraged to formally report potholes via My Services or through the Blaenau Gwent App, as this creates an official record and helps the council prioritise its response within available resources.
