Portsmouth City Council is increasing its road maintenance schedule to tackle a sudden rise in potholes and road surface issues that has not been seen before in Portsmouth.

The most likely cause for this is a more extreme fluctuation of temperatures this winter than the region would usually experience, which has affected the condition of the roads, said the council.

Data has shown that Portsmouth is among the best cities nationally for road quality, according to the NHT Public Satisfaction Survey 2022 and the council has increased the road maintenance schedule to ensure this high standard continues.

The council employs Colas to maintain Portsmouth’s roads throughout the year, including the repair of potholes. This means there is no extra cost to taxpayers for additional work to tackle the current unprecedented increase, including extra inspections, managing the rise in reported issues and carrying out repairs as quickly as possible.

Martin Lavers, the council’s assistant director for regeneration, said: “We are working with Colas to increase our maintenance work to address the sudden and unusual increase in potholes. We’d like to thank residents for their patience and understanding during this time, and by reporting any issues, residents can play a crucial role in ensuring that our city’s infrastructure remains safe and reliable.”