Number of potholes in Greenwich doubles in five years
According to the findings of the not-for-profit campaign group Round Our Way, the borough experienced a significant increase in potholes. In 2018, there were 749 potholes, which rose to a staggering 1,467 between January and November 2023. Over the past five years, Greenwich has documented a total of 6,341 potholes, with 748 in 2019, 769 in 2020, and 1,433 in 2021. The numbers decreased to 1,175 in 2022 but then increased again in the following year.
Roger Harding, Director of Round Our Way, expressed concern about potholes posing risks to drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. He attributed the increase in potholes to extreme weather conditions associated with climate change and reduced funding for road repairs.
Round Our Way’s research indicates that the surge in potholes in Greenwich is part of a nationwide trend fueled by a combination of extreme weather and decreased expenditure on road maintenance. The UK is on track to set a record for the highest number of potholes, projected to surpass one million in 2023, representing a 62.3% increase from the previous year. Their report, based on data from 115 local authorities and projections, suggests that 2023 is likely to exceed the five-year high recorded in 2018, with an estimated total of 686,759 potholes by the end of December 2023.
According to Round Our Way’s analysis, the factors contributing to potholes, such as water, traffic, and freeze-thaw cycles, could be exacerbated by the adverse weather conditions caused by climate change. Storm Babet in October and late November snow and ice are believed to have contributed to the rise in potholes. Additionally, reductions in council funding have left the UK lagging behind countries like France, the US, and Japan in terms of road repair investments, as noted by the Local Government Association.
Dr. Benyi Cao, a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow and Lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Surrey, expressed deep concern about the alarming increase in potholes in the UK in 2023. He suggested that climate change, with its associated extreme weather conditions, could worsen the pothole situation.