By DAVID CHURCHILL, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
Published: 20:49 EDT, 20 March 2026 | Updated: 20:52 EDT, 20 March 2026
Town halls face losing record sums for fixing roads under tough new rules being drawn up by ministers aimed at ending the ‘pothole plague’.
The ‘carrot and stick’ strategy will see ministers withhold a quarter of the cash earmarked for councils unless they share more performance data with the Government on repairs.
Ministers will also block councils from spending money earmarked for road maintenance on other things to ensure money for pothole-filling makes it to the pock-marked frontline.
While the strategy has been used before, only one council lost their cash last year under more lenient rules.
Ministers are now planning to beef them up and withhold funds from any council given a ‘red’ performance rating, with nearly a dozen currently in this category.
The tougher rules should be in place as early as next month, according to Government sources.
It is a boost for the Daily Mail’s End the Pothole Plague campaign, which has been pushing for more to be done to fix Britain’s local roads, which councils are responsible for resurfacing.
A Government source said: ‘This Labour government has put its money where its mouth is – committing record sums to fix Britain’s roads.
The annual Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) report this week found the repair bill to fix Britain’s pock-marked local roads has jumped to £18.6billion – up from £17billion last year
Almost half of local roads (49 per cent) in England and Wales are set to crumble and become unusable within 15 years, while one in six will do so within the next five years
‘But we have to make sure councils are spending it correctly and delivering change people can see in their communities.
‘Tough new standards will see the best performing councils earn their full share of funding.
‘We will end the pothole plague.’
The Government has committed a record £7.3billion towards pothole spending between next month and the end of the decade.
A report this week said the government’s 17 per cent spending boost for this financial year (2025/26) had ‘marginally’ improved the condition of local roads after years of ‘dramatic underspending’.
But the annual Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) study also found the repair bill to fix Britain’s pock-marked local roads has jumped to £18.6billion – up from £17billion last year.
And local roads are being resurfaced on average every 97 years, up from 93.
Almost half of local roads (49 per cent) in England and Wales are set to crumble and become unusable within 15 years, while one in six will do so within the next five years, the report added.
The Daily Mail revealed how attacks on workmen by motorists have surged as anger grows over the backlog.
AIA chairman David Giles told this newspaper that road maintenance workers are increasingly being sworn at, spat at and even punched by angry drivers while fixing long-damaged roads.
‘People have got out of their cars and abused workmen – pushed them, hit them,’ he said.
Simon Williams, of the RAC, said: ‘Potholes continue to cause major headaches for motorists.
‘Record investment from central government, along with a commitment to longer‑term funding, gives councils a real chance to get on top of road maintenance.
‘Those that can show they’re taking the right approach – especially preventative treatments that can stop potholes forming – should receive more funding than those still relying on the “patch and dash” method, which leaves roads in a poor state.’
Edmund King, AA president, said: ‘The roads are in such a poor state that fixing them is going to take a herculean effort.
‘We applaud the emphasis that the total funds given for maintenance should be spent on the roads.
‘This is something we have campaigned for. Any council dragging their heels to upgrade the road network should know that they face a funding gap pushing their potholes into a financial hole if they fail to perform.’
Context:
Ministers will withhold 25% of road repair funding from councils that don't meet new performance standards.
Context:
Poor roads cost drivers billions and threaten local economies as nearly half may become unusable within 15 years.
Context:
Road workers face increasing violence from frustrated motorists, with reports of spitting and physical attacks.