More than a hundred residents have taken part in Stuart Anderson MP's Pothole Patrol initiative. 119 responses were received between 27th March 2025 and 12th May 2025 from residents across South Shropshire.
Stuart launched his campaign on 27th March 2025, after the government pledged only a "fraction" of funding announced by the last government as part of Network North.
The £8.3 billion plan that the previous government had published in October 2023 committed to resurfacing 5,000 miles of road as part of a decade long repair scheme.
The redirected HS2 funding planned to invest £153 million in highways maintenance across Shropshire in the ten years up to 2034. It was in addition to the annual highways maintenance grant.
Stuart said that the funding had equipped Shropshire Council with the certainty that is needed to plan longer term interventions. Ministers have since reduced Shropshire's allocation to £9 million for the next year only.
Ministers have also kept back 25% of the £500 million top-up until councils can prove that they are meeting certain criteria in the summer. In a bid to unlock the funding, Stuart called on the Government In March to "rethink its approach."
In his letter, Stuart urged Ministers to "stand by the previously announced investment for Shropshire." It follows research from the RAC, which found that a record £579 million was spent in the UK last year on repairing vehicles damaged by potholes.
In a statement, the Local Government Association added that:
“Councils already spend considerably more on maintaining their highways than what they receive from central government. Fully funding councils will enable them to far more effectively plan for and invest in preventative treatments which keep surfaces in better condition for longer and prevent potholes, which are more expensive to repair.”
In a response to Stuart dated 8th May 2025, the Minister for Future of Roads Lilian Greenwood MP said:
"On Monday 24 March, my Department wrote to all local highway authorities advising them that 25% of their uplift in maintenance funding is contingent upon them demonstrating that they are complying with certain criteria aimed at driving best practice and continual improvement in highways maintenance practice."
Ms Greenwood, who is responsible for local roads and roads maintenance, added: "You will hear more on future years’ funding after the conclusion of the Spending Review."
Ahead of this event taking place in June, Stuart has submitted the results of this survey to demonstrate the importance of this issue. The most reported areas included Cleobury Mortimer, Church Stretton and Craven Arms, and Worfield.
Everyone said that potholes are an issue in their area. Three in every four person had previously reported the issue to Shropshire Council. Almost a quarter had not reported it. Stuart has now submitted a full list of the potholes to the Council.
Stuart has urged them to schedule the roads for repair work as soon as possible. Data collated by the House of Commons has found that over two-thirds of residents travel to work by car or van. This represents more than 27,000 constituents.
One resident commented:
"Fixing our roads is a safety critical issue facing Shropshire drivers every day. We are now seeing drivers swerving to avoid potholes, increasing the likelihood of serious head on collisions.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"I am fully committed to improving the condition and quality of our roads in South Shropshire. It is a vital part of my mission to ensure residents have safe, well-maintained roads. So, I am concerned that the new government has decided against the last government's long-term approach to investing in our highways by publishing allocations for the next year only. It has also held back a quarter of funding until councils can prove that they are meeting stringent criteria during the summer months. Having received responses from over a hundred residents, my Pothole Patrol initiative has demonstrated the importance of unlocking the full funding. I have submitted a list of every road that residents have raised with me to Shropshire Council. I have urged them to ensure these roads are repaired as soon as possible."
