Welcome to 'Pothole Land': Fed up villagers cover roads in posters and bunting to warn drivers about deadly potholes up to 10 inches deep - after a lack of action from local council chiefs
14 January 2025
Fed-up villagers have put up posters, banners, and bunting – welcoming drivers to 'Pothole land' due to the state of their failing roads.
Locals in a Welsh valley hope the theme park-style campaign will highlight the awful conditions of the hazard-strewn streets, which they say have potholes up to 10 inches deep.
It comes as the total cost of repairing vehicles damaged by potholes hit a record high last year, new figures show.
The campaigning residents of villages and hamlets in the Ceiriog Valley, near Wrexham, say some potholes on their streets are so large they have nicknamed them 'elephant traps' - and boast they are among the 'deepest, longest and widest in Wales'.
Drivers in the valley are also being left with huge repair bills and that even 999 vehicles have been affected.
Wrexham councillor Trevor Bates, who drives a 4x4, said: 'Two broken springs in a few months cost me £600. This is no joke.
'Yet Wrexham Council has had to bow to the legal power of the off-road brigade and repair mountain tracks at a cost of thousands - and Welsh Government can find money for a new National Park.
'With the dire shortage of funding for rural roads I don't see how any significant improvement will happen in the near future.'
Fed-up villagers have put up posters, banners, and bunting – welcoming drivers to 'Pothole land' due to the state of their failing roads
The campaigning residents of villages and hamlets in the Ceiriog Valley, near Wrexham, say some potholes on their streets are so large they have nicknamed them 'elephant traps' - and boast they are among the 'deepest, longest and widest in Wales'
Posters and banners have been plastered around a valley by fed-up motorists to welcome visitors to a new 'theme park' full of potholed roads. 'Pothole Land' is a campaign set out by residents to highlight the awful road conditions which is damaging their vehicles and isolating those elderly living in the area.
He added that desperate residents have been infilling the holes themselves with concrete.
Residents of Ceiriog Valley, which has 92 miles of roads, have called the 'Pothole Land' campaign a 'brilliant', and 'inspired' way of highlighting the issue.
One woman said: 'Road taxes and council tax astronomical up here. What do we get in return? Forgotten about.'
Wrexham Council said works are 'prioritised based upon annual condition survey data'.
National Pothole Day was created by campaign group the Pothole Partnership, which is urging councils to prioritise permanent resurfacing over 'patching' which often leads to potholes reappearing.
The Government is spending nearly £1.6 billion on road maintenance in England in 2025/26, a £500 million uplift on the previous 12 months.
But the cost of bringing pothole-plagued local roads in England and Wales up to scratch has been estimated at £16.3 billion.
The Department for Transport previously said it will make sure highway authorities 'spend the money wisely' and deliver 'proactive maintenance' before potholes form.
Wrexham councillor Trevor Bates, who drives a 4x4, said: 'Two broken springs in a few months cost me £600. This is no joke
A quarter of the increased funding will be held back until authorities have demonstrated they are using it well.
Adam Hug, of the Local Government Association, which represents councils, called on the Government to 'reconsider' this move, to 'give councils the greater certainty they need'.
He added: 'Greater and sustainable long-term funding will enable councils to far more effectively plan for and invest in preventative treatments.'
AA president Edmund King said: 'The Government is beginning to instigate policies that should lead to longer term fixes rather than the recent patchwork approach.'
A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'Britain deserves better roads, and it now has a Government that will deliver them.'
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Tourists welcomed to 'Pothole Land' with 'the best examples in whole of Wales'
Visitors are warned to 'proceed with caution' and be aware that 'parking may be difficult'
13 January 2025
Fed-up motorists have turned a North Wales valley into a new “theme park” inviting others to tour its rutted and pitted roads. It’s part of a tongue-in-cheek campaign to highlight the “elephant trap” potholes said to be damaging vehicles and isolating the elderly in the Ceiriog Valley, Wrexham county.
Professional-looking banners and posters welcome visitors to “Pothole Land” with a “guarantee” its potholes are the “deepest, longest and widest in Wales”. Tourers are promised “two kilometres of potholes with very little actual road to spoil your fun”.
According to the residents' campaign, entry is free for all visitors - though they are warned to “proceed with caution” and be aware that “parking may be difficult”. All promotional material is attributed to Wrexham Council, which has long been blamed for ignoring the needs of the “forgotten valley” near Chirk.
Ongoing deterioration has left some of its roads with potholes up to 10 inches (25cm) deep that are said to be blocking emergency services and keeping carers from clients. Motorists have been left with hefty repair bills and locals report soaring sales of all-terrain 4x4 vehicles.
Wrexham councillor Trevor Bates, who represents the Dyffryn Ceiriog ward, came across the banners and posters last night (Sunday, January 12). Writing online, he said: “I need a 4x4 to live along the council road that runs to my house and the combined road taxes alone for mine and my wife’s is nearly £1,000 per year.
“Two broken springs in a few months cost me £600. This is no joke. Yet Wrexham Council has had to bow to the legal power of the off-road brigade and repair mountain tracks at a cost of thousands - and Welsh Government can find money for a new National Park expecting us the taxpayers to fund it.”
Critics have labelled the roads “horrendous”, claiming that complaints have been left unanswered for years. Cllr Bates said desperate residents had been forced to take matters into their hands by infilling holes and ruts with concrete. The practice is not recommended as it can damage the surrounding asphalt. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community
The 'attraction' is entirely free to visit. Or you can pay £3 for a bag of asphalt (Image: Cllr Trevor Bates)
Carers have spoken of difficulty getting to clients via outlying lanes where vehicles can go down to their axles in potholes and ruts. There are concerns about the ability of ambulances and fire engines to get to where they need to be.
Residents have called “Pothole Land” a “brilliant”, and “inspired” way of throwing a spotlight on the issue. One woman said: “Road taxes and council tax astronomical up here. What do we get in return? Forgotten about. The huge potholes going to cause a bad accident one day.”
Adding to the strain on the valley’s infrastructure has been this winter’s extreme weather. Storm Bert’s heavy rainfall, which caused a landslide that part-destroyed a local farm in late November, was followed by December’s Storm Darragh, which left much of the valley without power for days. Last week’s heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures have further degraded local roads.
The Ceiriog Valley extends to 26 square miles, most of which is rural. It has 92 miles of roads but with a sparse population of only 2,100, residents are concerned they are being sidelined in favour of urban areas.
Cllr Bates said urgent action was needed to address the malaise. But he fears Wrexham Council lacks the funding to repair the valley’s roads. On social media, he said: “Our NHS is in a mess and North Wales is fast becoming a retirement home for English downsizers and a playground for petrolheads.
“No wonder youngsters are leaving the area, but that leaves the old folk without carers and destroys our communities. Wrexham Council may be guilty of neglecting the Ceiriog Valley in the past, but with the dire shortage of funding for rural roads I don’t see how any significant improvement will happen in the near future.”
Wrexham Council has been approached for a comment. Online, it said works are “prioritised based upon annual condition survey data”. Scheduled repairs can be postponed due to “budget adjustments or public utilities emergencies”, the council added.
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Daventry signs mock 'Grand Canyon' potholes
16 March 2024
A sign on the Daventry to Long Buckby road claims that the town should be twinned with the Grand Canyon
Signs have appeared which claim a town should be "twinned with the Grand Canyon" due to the number of pot holes on its roads.
The hand-painted boards in Daventry, Northamptonshire, welcomed drivers to "Pot Hole City" and "Pot Holy Island".
Another sign warns drivers to "hold on tight".
West Northamptonshire Council has yet to comment on the signs. It introduced a £165,000 Pothole Pro machine to fix damaged roads earlier this year.
The signs have created plenty of discussion in Daventry
The identity of the phantom sign painter is not known but the notices have prompted plenty of discussion and debate in Daventry. One sign reads: "Welcome to Pot Hole City - twinned with Grand Canyon."
One driver claimed on social media that he was now "£124.86 out of pocket" after hitting a gap in the road surface.
Another said that he has "gone through three tyres and two coil springs in the last two years, costing in the region of £800!".
Another sign on a busy ring road roundabout urges drivers to "hold on tight"
A sign attached to railings in the centre of a roundabout warns of "hole after hole"
One motorist thought the signs might make a difference. She wrote: "Maybe this is the answer, perhaps it takes road signs like this for them to take notice."
Another local resident added: "Maybe, just maybe, if enough were put up the council would get on board and start repairing the holes."
Under the Highways Act 1980, anyone who attaches a sign to any structure on a highway without permission from the highway authority or a reasonable excuse "is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine".
West Northamptonshire Council has been asked to comment on the signs.
Some roundabouts, particularly in areas of town used by heavier vehicles, appear to be in a poor condition
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С интересом и понятными пожеланиями, Dimitriy.
