Record funding, record results: 800 miles of smoother journeys for the East Midlands as government tackles potholes

Over 800 miles of road resurfacing – the equivalent of the length of the UK – will be completed this year in the East Midlands according to new figures published today as the government looks to give drivers more breathing space and help with the cost of living.

Figures from local councils shows over 10% more resurfacing than took place last year as data also shows that councils in the East Midlands are starting to properly invest in their roads with £550 million total being spent this year, £150m more than before this government came to power.

The record figures show that the government’s £7.3 billion in funding for road maintenance is starting to deliver better roads for communities that have suffered from potholes, helping the average driver save up to nearly £600 pounds on costly repairs.

Following the publication of today’s data, the government has gone even further and unlocked £220 million in incentive-based funding to councils across England for meeting performance-based targets. Further funding will be released later in the year only if councils reach their performance targets, and can be withheld if they fail to reach them as part of the government’s efforts to hold councils to account.

Potholes continue to be a daily nuisance for drivers across the country, whether they’re travelling to work, the school run or a hospital appointment. But record funding and new measures to hold councils to account and make transport better, also shown in the recent announcement to tackle antisocial behaviour on transport, including £100 fines on buses and a crackdown on loud music on trains.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “For too long potholes have been a point of national embarrassment, forcing hard-working people from Lincoln to Northampton to fork out for repairs and posing a danger to all road users. But today’s figures show that we are starting to turn a corner.

“While we know there is much more to do, our record funding, combined with tough new rules holding councils to account, mean that drivers are making safer, smoother journeys while giving people roads they can rely on.”

The reports councils submitted to the government showed that every council in the East Midlands will complete preventative roadworks this year, stopping the same part of road being patched over and over again, and stamping out potholes before they have the chance to form in the first place.

It shows councils are doing more preventative works than last year, where only 76% did this work, showing that councils are changing behaviour as a result of clear direction from government, record funding and strict monitoring – meaning more money stays in the pocket of drivers.

Meanwhile additional figures released last week show local road conditions improved in the year ending March 2026 across England, with less minor roads needing maintenance decreasing following works last year.

Dan Joyce, Operations Director at a well known tyre service company, said: “Our teams across the country have been repairing damage from potholes all too often, with tyres, wheels and suspension components most frequently suffering from the impact. Potholes not only cause costly damage, they can also present a significant risk to road safety.

“We welcome this increased investment, especially the additional focus on proactive maintenance as this helps prevent potholes before they become a danger to road users, or a drain on drivers’ wallets.”

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “This data is encouraging. It’s good to see so many miles of road being resurfaced, but it’s also positive that the preventative maintenance message has got through as we’ve long argued that councils need to take steps to stop potholes appearing in the first place, and not just patch them up. Surface dressing, if done properly, is a very cost effective way of improving more roads for the long term.

“The proof, of course, will be in whether drivers and other road users notice the difference. Getting the country’s roads up to a decent standard, and keeping them there, isn’t an overnight job. But at least we’re now on the right track.”