Pothole reports spike linked to heavy rain

Road users submitted more than three times as many reports of potholes and damage to roads in Surrey in January than the previous month, council figures have shown.

Surrey County Council (SCC) data has revealed the authority received 7,020 enquiries in January, while in December there were 2,106.

There were also 4,453 more reports of potholes in January 2026 than the previous January.

A council spokesperson said the county's roads had seen "a significant increase" in the number of potholes "largely due to freezing temperatures and consistent, heavy rain".

They added: "These conditions cause road surfaces to crack and more potholes to form."

Southern England has had one of its wettest Januarys on record, according to the Met Office.

An SCC spokesperson said: "We know how frustrating potholes are and ask residents to bear with us while demand is so exceptionally high during this peak period."

The local authority said it had increased its normal number of repair crews by 75% and encouraged residents to report potholes, but asked that "multiple reports of the same pothole is avoided as this can slow the process down".

The government rated Surrey as amber on its first road maintenance ratings in January, based on road conditions and how well government funds were used.

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