The new Reform UK leadership at Staffordshire County Council is facing intense scrutiny after official figures revealed a significant drop in the number of potholes repaired across the county's roads.
A Sharp Decline in Road Repairs
Data shows that between May and October this year, the council's teams filled in 17,826 potholes. This represents a marked decrease from the 21,013 repairs carried out in the same period in 2024, amounting to a 15.1 per cent fall.
The decline began almost immediately after Reform UK's landslide election victory on May 1. Repairs in May 2025 totalled 2,638, down from 3,153 the previous year. The gap widened considerably by September, with just 2,498 repairs compared to 3,890 in September 2024.
Political Blame and Council Defence
Opposition politicians from the Conservative and Labour parties have been quick to criticise the new administration. They argue the drop is particularly disappointing given favourable summer weather and a substantial £10.5 million boost in government funding for Staffordshire's road infrastructure.
Conservative shadow cabinet member for strategic highways, Councillor Simon Tagg, directly linked the fall to a three-month moratorium on new non-essential roadworks in urban centres, introduced by Reform over the summer to ease traffic disruption in Stafford town centre.
"We warned the new Reform administration about the risks," Tagg stated. "They have wasted some of the best summer and autumn weather in years... because of their failure, Staffordshire roads are in a much worse state than they should be."
Labour MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, Adam Jogee, echoed the sentiment, saying: "Reform took charge promising better results... but the reality is a failure to deliver, even with increased support."
Long-Term Strategy vs. Short-Term Fixes
In response, the Reform-led council has defended its record. Councillor Peter Mason, cabinet member for strategic highways, asserted that the authority has followed the repair plans and budget set before the May elections.
He emphasised that the administration is focused on a fundamental overhaul of highway maintenance to ensure lasting quality. "We have been working on completely changing the approach to repairs," Mason explained. "Our new approach means residents can look forward to better roads, long-lasting quality repairs rather than quick fixes... We make no apologies for taking the time to get this right."
The debate sets the council's promise of a coordinated, long-term strategy against opposition claims of a failure to act on urgent repairs, leaving residents to navigate deteriorating roads as winter sets in.
