North East Lincolnshire pothole repairs cost council £137,316 as reports rise

Drivers across North East Lincolnshire will be familiar with the jolt of a damaged road surface, and new figures show just how much it is costing to keep on top of the problem. North East Lincolnshire Council spent £137,316 repairing potholes during 2025, according to information released through a Freedom of Information request. Over that 12 month period, the authority said it fixed 814 defects on roads in the area. For communities in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and surrounding towns and villages, the figures offer a snapshot of the ongoing pressure on local highways.

Potholes are one of the most visible signs of wear on the road network, affecting daily journeys, school runs, bus routes and trips to work across this part of Lincolnshire. The council has also reported a sharp increase in pothole complaints at the start of 2026. Councillor Stewart Swinburn said more than 1,700 reports were submitted between December and February alone, suggesting the issue has remained high on the list of concerns for residents and motorists. North East Lincolnshire Council said it uses a set threshold when deciding what counts as a pothole for repair purposes.

A defect is classified as a pothole if it is 40mm or more in depth and more than 300mm in diameter. That does not mean every repair is carried out at the same speed. Depending on where the pothole is and how serious it is judged to be, repair times can range from within 24 hours to as long as three working months. That variation is likely to be felt differently across the area, especially on roads carrying heavier traffic or serving residential neighbourhoods.

The Freedom of Information request also asked how many potholes were still waiting to be repaired at the end of 2025. The council said it could not provide that historic figure. Instead, it said there were 114 outstanding repairs as of 13 March. A spokesperson explained that a pothole reported late in the year might not be scheduled for repair until the following March.

They also said records are updated weekly once work is completed, meaning older snapshot figures are not retained. The number of outstanding repairs, the council added, changes daily as new defects are reported and others are fixed. The issue has now reached the council chamber too. At a full council meeting on Thursday, councillors approved a motion to explore ways of improving both the speed and effectiveness of pothole repairs.

For Lincolnshire readers, it is another reminder that road maintenance remains a major local issue, with councils under pressure to respond quickly while balancing costs, staffing and the condition of a network relied on every day.

This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.