Potholes

The severe winter weather over the past three winters had a dramatic detrimental effect on the roads in Wandsworth and indeed, across the whole of London. The winter weather of January/February 2009 was cited as the worst for twenty years, December 2009/January 2010 the worst for thirty years and in December 2010 the worst for forty years.

The Council responded by greatly increasing funding to not only rectify the winters' damage, but also to increase the road resurfacing programme so that the roads in Wandsworth could better withstand severe winters.  In 2009/10 an injection of funding increased the budget to £2 million for patching/pothole repairs, the highest level of funding for many years. This was also supported by increased funding for a larger road resurfacing programme. The Council again committed large funding for patching/pothole repairs in 2010/11of £1 million to maintain the improvements already made. Another annual resurfacing programme was undertaken to complement these works.

The winter weather conditions experienced in December 2010 caused further damage although the earlier investment in repairs had reduced the impact. £200,000 for patching/pothole repairs was allocated for 2011/12 and £1.2 million funding for the programme of road resurfacing.

In addition, and in direct response to the extreme winter weather conditions, the Department for Transport (DfT) provided the Council funding of £182,822 for pothole repairs in March 2011. This support enhanced the Council's funding and has allowed us to carry out more patching and pothole repairs to slow the deterioration in road conditions even further.

The DfT funding has been utilised within the allowed period April to September 2011 and continued investment by Wandsworth Council will ensure repairs to potholes throughout the borough and large scale resurfacing works continues.