Cornwall’s Pothole Backlog Tops 5,000 as County Ranks Second Worst in UK

You’re not imagining it. If your suspension has taken a beating lately, or your morning commute now involves a slalom course of crater dodging, the numbers back you up. Cornwall has officially landed near the top of a league table no county wants to be in.

The Scale of the Problem

New research from commercial van provider Northgate Vehicle Hire places Cornwall Council second in the UK for pothole enquiries, with 34,937 reports logged in 2025. Only Devon County Council fared worse, racking up 40,169 enquiries over the same period. Durham County Council came third with 28,952.

The motoring association RAC estimates drivers across England and Wales hit at least one million potholes every year. Cornwall Council is reportedly sitting on a backlog of more than 5,000 waiting to be fixed.

How Cornwall Compares

The top five councils for pothole enquiries in 2025 read as follows:

1. Devon County Council, 40,169
2. Cornwall Council, 34,937
3. Durham County Council, 28,952
4. Nottingham City Council, 18,646
5. Essex County Council, 17,812

Northgate gathered the figures through Freedom of Information requests to 18 of the UK’s largest local authorities.

Worst for Overall Road Quality

The picture gets bleaker when you look beyond enquiry numbers. Northgate also analysed road maintenance effectiveness using Department for Transport data, alongside ONS road casualty figures and claims for vehicle damage caused by road defects.

On overall road quality, Cornwall Council ranked second worst in the UK with a score of 40.37. Nottingham City Council came out worst with 6.61, and Newcastle City Council third with 50.83.

Cornwall Council also faced 417 claims from drivers whose vehicles were damaged by road defects. Notably, while Nottingham City Council received far fewer enquiries (18,646), Cornwall’s enquiry volume of 34,937 is nearly double that figure, pointing to a much higher per-capita complaint rate locally.

What Happens Next

Storms have continued to disrupt road maintenance across the county, and the pressure is mounting from above too. Recent government data revealed councils will face tougher rules to prove they are fixing potholes, or risk losing next year’s funding.

Spencer Davi, UK Sales and Marketing Director at Northgate Vehicle Hire, said: “When you drive for a living, the quality and safety of the road can affect everything from your personal safety, how stressed you feel while at work, to the lifespan of your vehicle. A road’s quality can shape everything from productivity to wellbeing. Our research highlights both the local authorities performing well and those where improvement is needed. We appreciate the significant pressures councils are facing, however investment in our roads is essential if we want to ensure safer and quality journeys for everyone.”

Spencer added: “As road users, I urge everyone to drive safely and if there is something you can do to improve the quality of your local road, for example, report a nuisance pothole for repair, then it’s well worth taking the time out to do so. Collectively, everyone’s actions can make a real difference.”

The full national breakdown is available on the Northgate Vehicle Hire website.