Bristol Pothole Week

National Pothole Day takes place every year on the 15th January (or the nearest week day). It take place in January because winter weather (rain, freezing and thawing) tends to make potholes worse.

Improvements in the frequency, quality and timeliness of pothole repairs will benefit motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

The Pothole Partnership encourage people to report potholes in their local areas.

The members of the Pothole Partnership are AA, JCB, National Motorcyclists Council and British Cycling.

Councillor Ed Plowden (BCC Transport Committee Chair) echoed this appeal:

"I would like to encourage members of the public to use the Fix My Street system to help us respond to problems effectively, alongside the long-term preventative, planning that our expert officers undertake."

Thousands of potholes across Bristol region filled in last year - but 'room for improvement' from councils - Bristol Live 15 Jan 2026

On National Pothole Day in Bristol there were 17 pothole reports made in Bristol.

Including the days before and after National Pothole Day (14th to 16th Jan 2026), there were 51 pothole reports made on FixMyStreet in Bristol.

Here are details of a few of these reports:

Growing potholes - 14 Jan 2026

This is the largest of a growing number of potholes in Littleton Road. The smaller version is from 23rd Dec and the same hole by 10th January. This larger pothole is throwing up a lot of gravel on the road surface. Combined with the pole hole itself is dangerous for cyclists and scooters. This is where we have to cycle. Please fill this and the growing number of small ones

Two large deep pot holes - 14 Jan 2026

There are two extremely large and deep potholes in the centre of Henshaw Road, approximately 20 yards apart. ( right near Henshaw walk ) They are directly in the wheel line and cannot be avoided, especially when vehicles are parked or oncoming traffic is present.

These potholes have clearly developed over time and have not appeared overnight. They present a serious hazard to vehicles and cyclists and are particularly dangerous at night and in wet weather, when they are difficult to see until it is too late.

Given their size, depth, and close proximity, this stretch of road requires urgent inspection and repair

Pothole, Lawrence Hill - 15 Jan 2026

In the centre of the road on Lawrence Hill, between the two Lawrence Hill Station bus stops, can be found a pothole in the road surface.

Deep pothole outside 32 Morpeth road - 15 Jan 2026

This pothole has been here for a few months, it appears to be getting deeper and lots of loose debris all over the road. Risks to pedestrians crossing, cyclists and cars. Also stones being flipped at cars causing damage.

Pavement and road collapsing due to continuous buses and cars having to use one side of the road - 15 Jan 2026

It’s about 40 foot from my driveway upwards towards number 12 and 10 gravel is causing problems with tyres debris on the pavement etc . My address is 14 Langley crescent and I’d say it’s been like it for 2 months and getting worse day by day

A large pothole has opened up again where it was repaired last year. This is just around a blind bend and forcing cars to dive into oncoming lane. Currently approx 40-50cm across and 10+ cm deep.

Pothole directly outside of school - 16 Jan 2026

We have had pupils and parents reipping on this area. Can the potholes be repaired and double yellow lines redone. Thank you

2ftx18inches depth 3inches was repaired last year but has come out - 16 Jan 2026

This was repaired last year but material as come out it is in cycle line so somebody mite get hurt

Bristol Pothole Day

This short video gives you a guided tour of the 51 pothole reports in Bristol made on the 14th, 15th and 16th January to celebrate Bristol Pothole Day.

Pothole Reporting Trends

We are only a few weeks into 2026, but as at 17 Jan 2026 the pothole reports for 2016 are already 13% of number of reports made in 2025.

Peak year for pothole reports was 2023 with a steady reduction for 2024 and 2025.

Many of the reports are for potholes where the previous repair has failed, so it it likely that the same pothole is being reported multiple times.

These are the Wards where most pothole reports have been made.

WECA and Pothole Repairs

Annex to Network North highway maintenance reporting

The Department for Transport has requested that all resurfacing and other highways maintenance work delivered with the new 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 funding unlocked from the Network North plan is reported for each authority.

This resurfacing and maintenance is made possible by reallocated HS2 funding.

The Government have decided to fill the "pothole black hole" by re-allocating funding from Rail to Roads.

Here are a few examples of the Resurfacing work carried out in Bristol that WECA have reported on.

It also reports on the annual expenditure for road repairs in Bristol.

2019/2020:
- Total expenditure: £9,818,739
- DfT Grant funding: £7,931,052
2020/2021:
- Total expenditure: £12,497,786
- DfT Grant funding: £7,369,890
2021/2022:
- Total expenditure: £14,497,786
- DfT Grant funding: £5,568,114
2022/2023:
- Total expenditure: £19,374,233
- DfT Grant funding: £8,892,928
2023/2024:
- Total expenditure: £18,343,443
- DfT Grant funding: £8,886,940
2024/2025:
- Total expenditure: £21,093,000
- DfT Grant funding: £8,886,940

Innovation in Bristol

According to the WECA Report, BCC are living up to their Green image by using recycled materials

Bristol CC is using recycle materials, from Bristol, in its roads and footways. Working with local contractors Bristol has made significant carbon and cost savings using recycled materials in the capping layers in carriageways and sub base of footways. Bristol also continue to develop and use warm mixes.

In November 2024 Councillor John Goulandris (Stoke Bishop) asked this question to the Chair of the Transport & Connectivity Policy Committee.

One interesting piece of information in the reply stood out: "Officer recently undertook a trial of the JCB pothole pro"

This machine is definitely being used in Gloucestershire to repair potholes. But I cannot find confirmation that the JCB Pothole Pro is currently being used in Bristol, but it is clear from the Transport Committee response that its use has been trialed in Bristol.

The image on the left shows a Childrens Playground in the Palestinian town of Silwan being illegally demolished using JCB Equipment.The image on the right shows a JCB machine being used to repair potholes in Gloucestershire.

At the Full Council Meeting on 14th Jan 2025 Councillors voted (57 For, 0
Against, 6 Abstaining) for the Motion: "CEASEFIRE IN GAZA AND ENDING THE UK’S ARMS TRADE WITH ISRAEL".

Which included this commitment:

councils must avoid procuring from or investing the funds they manage, including Local Government Pension Scheme funds, in companies that facilitate Israel's breaches of international law

One of the companies on the UN Database of Companies that facilitate Israel's breaches of international law is JCB.

See: Database of Business Enterprises Pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolutions 31/36 and 53/25

See : Stop JCB’s Bulldozer Genocide - Nov 2025

Are JCB machines being used by Bristol City Council (or it's suppliers)?

Have BCC lobbied WECA to block the use of JBC Machinery?

At the BCC Full Council Meeting on 13/01/2026 I asked this question, which specifically asked about the use of JCB equipment.

This was the published response:

Following last years Golden Motion the council is committed to doing what is within our power to support a ceasefire in Gaza and end UK’s arms trade with Israel, but as a local authority our influence on this international issue is limited. The Council’s Ethical and Equitable Investment Policy sets out the Council’s Investment principles and decisions are made in accordance with the Policy. Our representatives on the Avon Pension fund worked to get a survey of members on investment principles, and supported the option of divesting from arms companies, however this was not supported by a majority of the members surveyed so fund was unable to make this change. The council legally must comply with many procurement rules and therefore our ability to reject the companies listed in your question is limited, but we will continue to explore what we can do. Following the motion agreed by full council we wrote to the Foreign Secretary asking the Government to cease arms sales to Israel.

This response seems to confirm that the "GAZA MOTION" was performative as BCC cannot actually do anything to prevent JCB Machinery being used in Bristol.