In Sheffield, a growing number of potholes across residential and school routes in Sheffield have drivers reporting vehicle damage and safety concerns with some motorists describing the road surface as worsening week by week.
Local Resident Charlotte, who regularly drives along City Road, said the scale of potholes goes beyond the usual road defects. She explained that the worst examples are on City Road itself.
“They aren’t like the average potholes, it’s not a little dent, it’s like a full drop.”
She added that she has to memorise where the worst holes are to avoid them,
“I try to remember where they are as I drive.”
Charlotte said that the conditions of the road has left her feeling anxious behind the wheel.
“I’ve hit that pothole so many times, I’m so scared the tyre will burst, I go up there every week, it jolted through my car, and I was convinced there was damage.”
She expressed a lot of concerns for health and safety not just for her but also for other locals.
“My biggest worry is getting hurt or the car becoming damaged, surely it would be cheaper to refill the potholes as they open rather than waiting for the whole road to be ruined.”
The council’s own guidance acknowledges potholes can form quickly, particularly after cold and wet weather, the guidelines say they try their best to prioritise repairs and carry them out across city streets.
The council has said how roads are checked on a rolling basis. They stated that if a pothole is hazardous which means they are 40mm or deeper than they are the ones which will be focused on.
The potholes are only temporarily filled to make them safe until permanent repairs can be made. There is a 28-day window once they are inspected. If there is enough evidence of damage, the public can pursue compensation if a defect was previously reported and not adequately addressed.
Members of the public who are concerned about pothole related damage can report the locations to Sheffield City Council by their online reporting form. Which can be found through the link attached.
Report a problem with a road, pavement or cycle lane | Sheffield City Council