Somerset tackles pothole surge after record wet winter
Extra teams and machinery have been brought in, with nearly sixteen thousand potholes repaired so far this year
Somerset Council has taken significant steps to address a surge in potholes following one of the wettest winters on record in the South West.
In the early part of 2026, additional teams and machinery were deployed to manage the increase in potholes, with 19,277 documented between January and 8th May - a nearly 62% rise compared to the same period last year.
Out of these, 15,771 potholes have been repaired by the council's contractor, Kier, averaging 876 repairs per week.
March saw the highest activity, with 4,964 potholes fixed.
The council has also surface dressed 831,000 sqm of road this year, a preventative measure that extends the road surface's lifespan and helps prevent future potholes.
Furthermore, a major ongoing programme has resulted in 31,000 sqm of road being resurfaced, including the A38 stretch between Wellington and Taunton.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council's Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services, expressed optimism: "There is always more to do but this is a great effort by all concerned. It was incredibly daunting at the start of the year with the situation described as a pothole pandemic."
He emphasised that efforts are not solely about pothole repairs but also the implementation of extensive preventative measures such as surface dressing and resurfacing across the county.
Wilkins encouraged the public to continue reporting any road issues, anticipating an improvement in road conditions soon.
The documented potholes per month are as follows:
April: 2,905
March: 5,035
February: 6,068
January: 4,711
Repairs conducted each month include:
April (four-week period): 3,739
March (five-week period): 4,964
February: 3,554
January: 2,541