Blackpool roads top residents' concern as council pledges £3.5m for repairs
Record complaints and fewer fixes highlight ongoing pothole crisis
Blackpool residents have expressed their frustration over the town's roads, citing them as the "number one" issue during council communications, with a marked increase in complaints about potholes in recent years.
Council leader Cllr Lynn Williams acknowledged the problem in her budget speech last week, announcing an additional £3.5 million investment for road improvements to address the challenges.
Figures from Blackpool Council show an upward trend in road complaints, with 502 flagged in 2025 and 736 in the previous year—more than double the typical average since 2012. Between 2023 and 2025, 1,808 complaints were recorded—a significant increase from 1,070 logged over the previous three-year period.
Fewer potholes fixed despite rising complaints
Despite the surge in complaints, fewer potholes were repaired recently: 8,139 fixes compared to 9,123 in the earlier three-year span, revealing a disconnect between reports and resolutions.
Cllr Williams emphasised the importance of road improvements, saying: “The number one issue raised with us on the doorstep is roads. We have spent millions over the last few years in improving the quality of our roads, but there remains much we want to do."
She mentioned various investments already underway including the £15 million Town Centre Access Scheme, aiming to enhance road accessibility in Blackpool's centre, alongside £3.3 million spent on resurfacing over 57,500 square metres in recent months.
Wider pothole crisis in the UK
Blackpool's road issues are part of a broader national crisis. Across the UK, over 1 million road defects have led to increased vehicle breakdowns, with drivers facing around £645 million in damages in 2025 alone.
Though millions of pounds have been allocated for repairs nationwide, 58 percent of drivers believe road conditions have deteriorated, with the backlog for road repairs estimated at £14 billion.
Efforts are ongoing in Blackpool and beyond to tackle the pervasive pothole problem, aiming to improve road quality and create safer travel conditions for all road users.