---

---

UTTLESFORD. Essex. More than 5,000 carriageway defects were repaired across Essex during the first quarter of the 2026 to 2027 financial year, representing a 30 per cent increase compared with the same period last year, according to Essex County Council.

The council said the increase follows its decision to declare a Pothole Emergency and invest an additional £7.5 million in highways maintenance for 2026 to 2027. The funding has been used to expand repair capacity, with a dedicated pothole repair crew now operating in each of Essex’s 12 district, borough and city council areas.

The authority said the extra resources have enabled more road defects to be repaired across the county as it seeks to address one of the issues most frequently raised by residents.

Alongside pothole repairs, Essex Highways is continuing its wider programme of road resurfacing. The council said the work is intended to improve the condition of the road network and to provide smoother, safer journeys for motorists and other road users.

Councillor Peter Harris, Leader of Essex County Council, said residents had made clear that road repairs were a priority.

He said, “When residents tell us that fixing potholes is one of their top priorities, it is our job to act. That is why one of the first decisions we took as a new administration was to declare a Pothole Emergency and invest an additional £7.5 million into road repairs across Essex.

“These figures show that action is already making a difference, with more repairs being carried out and more crews on the ground in communities across the county.

“This is exactly the approach set out in our 100-day plan, focusing on practical improvements that residents can see and benefit from in their everyday lives, while laying the foundations for longer-term reform.”

Councillor Mark Webster, the council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, said the latest figures showed progress following the additional investment.

He said: “When we declared a Pothole Emergency, we made a commitment to increase repairs across Essex and tackle one of the biggest concerns raised by residents.

“The latest figures show encouraging progress. The additional investment we’ve made, together with dedicated repair crews working across every district, is enabling us to repair significantly more defects than we could before.

“We’re not pretending the job is finished. Residents rightly expect better roads, and there’s still a lot more to do, but these figures show we’re moving in the right direction.

“Public service is about listening to residents, taking responsibility, making evidence led decisions that lead to raising standard for the people we serve.”

The council announced the Pothole Emergency as part of its programme for the 2026 to 2027 financial year, with the additional funding aimed at increasing repair capacity and accelerating maintenance work. It said the combination of pothole repairs and resurfacing schemes forms part of its longer-term approach to improving Essex’s road network.

The council has not released a district-by-district breakdown of the repairs completed during the first quarter. Further updates on highway maintenance are expected as work continues throughout the financial year.

---

* Have you spotted something happening in Elsenham or Henham? Let us know through our contact form. *