More Pothole Crews Set to Hit Staffordshire’s Roads This Summer

Burton motorists could soon notice smoother journeys as Staffordshire County Council rolls out 14 additional highways crews to tackle potholes and road defects across the county.

The new teams will be fully operational by the end of June and will work alongside existing highways crews throughout the summer and autumn. Based at the council’s depots in Leek, Lichfield, Gailey and Stone, they will be making the most of the warmer, drier weather to carry out as many repairs as possible.

The extra resource forms part of a £15 million investment in Staffordshire’s roads over the next two years. The funding is aimed at reducing the backlog of lower-level potholes – the smaller defects that may not pose an immediate safety risk but can still be a daily annoyance for drivers, cyclists and residents.

While the programme covers the whole county, Burton residents can expect to see the benefits locally as more crews become available to tackle repairs and maintenance work.

The council says its ambition is to repair more potholes than ever before by March 2027, provided the weather plays ball – always a brave assumption in Britain.

Alongside the extra crews, the investment will fund new repair methods and specialist equipment. This includes techniques such as screeding and velocity patching, helping teams choose the most effective repair for each type of defect.

Patrick Allen, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Support Member for Highways North, said the additional teams would make a noticeable difference in local communities.

He said: “It’s great to see these new crews up and running, and they will make a real difference to local communities. Our hope is that in the coming months, residents will see an improvement on the roads, with many of those lower-level potholes that have perhaps been there for some time, finally fixed.

“Added to this, we are investing in new machinery and new ways of working, to ensure our crews have everything they need to get on with the job of fixing, and are working as efficiently as possible.”

With Staffordshire responsible for maintaining around 4,000 miles of roads, there is no shortage of work ahead. But with more boots on the ground and new technology at their disposal, road users across Burton and the wider county should start seeing the results over the coming months.

Residents can continue to report potholes and other highways issues through Staffordshire County Council’s ReportIt service.