Over 118,000 Potholes Repaired Across Cornwall in Four Years

New figures have revealed the scale of pothole damage affecting roads across Cornwall, with more than 118,000 defects repaired over the past four years.

The data, obtained through a Freedom of Information request by cinch, shows that Cornwall Council repaired 118,650 potholes between 2022 and 2025. Over the same period, 118,964 potholes were reported by members of the public.

The figures place Cornwall among the top 15 local authorities in the UK for the number of pothole repairs carried out during the period analysed. The research forms part of a wider national study, with 207 local authorities contacted across Britain.

Year by year breakdown

The FOI data shows a steady rise in both reported and repaired potholes across Cornwall.

2022
Reported: 19,883
Repaired: 19,883

2023
Reported: 33,804
Repaired: 33,804

2024
Reported: 37,381
Repaired: 37,381

2025 (1 January to 30 September)
Reported: 27,896
Repaired: 27,582

Why potholes keep coming back

Commenting on the findings, Ben Welham, motoring editor at cinch, said:
“Our research suggests that drivers are feeling increasingly frustrated by the condition of our roads. Roads are breaking down faster than they can be repaired, and it’s affecting everyday journeys. Longer-term investment will be key to making driving smoother and safer for everyone.”

Ben said the high number of pothole reports and repairs points to deeper issues within the road network. He highlighted several contributing factors.

Water penetration and freeze thaw cycles were identified as a major cause, with water entering cracks, freezing, expanding and breaking apart road surfaces during cold and wet winters.

Ageing road surfaces also play a role, with large parts of the network now decades old. As tarmac ages, the materials binding it together weaken, making roads more vulnerable to cracking and erosion.

Heavier vehicles and increased traffic volumes were also cited. Modern cars are larger and heavier, putting extra strain on road surfaces that were not designed for today’s vehicle weights.

Short term patch repairs were highlighted as another issue, with budget pressures often leading councils to rely on temporary fixes rather than full resurfacing. While necessary, these repairs are less durable and more likely to fail.

Extreme weather patterns were also mentioned, with heavy rainfall softening road foundations and hot summers softening asphalt, both contributing to surface breakdown.

According to Ben, tackling these issues will require longer term maintenance strategies and continued investment to improve the resilience of the road network.