A leading councillor has spoken about potholes in the Lancaster and Morecambe area as more concerns emerged about the state of the roads in Carnforth.
County Councillor Brian Moore posted on Facebook after numerous complaints were made about the number of potholes on roads in the District.
County Councillor Moore of Reform UK, who represents Morecambe South on Lancashire County Council, said:
"So what about the potholes?
"That is a question I and all the other county councillors get asked about all the time, so I thought I would tell you what I know.
"Whilst highways are not directly within my remit as a cabinet member, I am generally aware of what is happening in other portfolio areas.
"I as a car driver who travels across the county, I totally understand everyone's frustration with the state of the roads. I too am frustrated at the lack of investment over many years which has led to the situation we now find ourselves in.
County Councillor Brian Moore
"When the Reform administration won power in May last year, we inherited a highways deficit of over £600m (the estimated investment required to bring all roads back to normal standard in Lancashire).
"Given the pressures on county council budgets, it would be impossible to divert this amount of money from other areas, such as social care and SEND provision which are also under pressure.
"Despite these financial pressures, we have revamped the way that road repairs are being handled since we came into power. This has resulted in almost 50,000 extra potholes being repaired compared to the same point in the previous year. Indeed, every pothole that was reported and on the system in May last year has now been repaired.
"According to the latest figures our contractor Multevo (who do the permanent pothole repairs) actually permanently repaired 1,600 potholes last week alone, giving each one a 12-month guarantee.
Below, a team from Multevo carrying out road repairs on Pedder Street in Morecambe on Wednesday. Photo: Beyond Radio
"These repairs do not include temporary repairs carried out by Lancashire County Council Highways staff who may just ‘blob’ a hole with tarmac until a permanent repair can be carried out.
"There are a number of reasons why the roads are particularly bad at the moment.
"1. The winter weather has been very unusual in that there was a spell of excessively heavy rainfall (30% higher than normal), which penetrated deep into the road surface.
"2. The water in the road was then frozen by the -7 degree cold spell we suffered in the second week of January.
"3. The frozen water expanded to either cause cracks and holes or de-lamination of the upper layer.
"4. Most local roads where not designed for the amount or weight of traffic which now uses them. This means that even the slightest defect is quickly magnified and then turned into a pothole.
"At the budget council a fortnight ago, we agreed to increase the highways allocation from the original £43m (set by the previous Conservative administration) to £72m for the forthcoming year.
"I am confident that as the weather improves you will start to see an improvement in our roads as the new budget is used to address the issues.
"In the meantime, can I encourage everyone to download and use the 'Love Clean Streets' app on your mobile phone to report any potholes you may come across.
"This gets them into the Highways system and ensures that they will eventually be dealt with."
In March 2025, before they were ousted in the local elections, the previous Conservative administration of Lancashire County Council agreed a £61m package for roads in the 2025/6 budget, saying they would also spend an additional £45m over the ensuing three years. They earmarked £28m from the budget to repair potholes and other structural defects, and £19.7m of it on projects including road resurfacing schemes.
Meanwhile last week, Carnforth Town Council announced they had written to Lancashire County Council Highways and Lancaster Rural North County Councillor Graham Dalton to raise ongoing concerns about the condition of North Road, Scotland Road, and several other areas in the town where potholes and surface damage have worsened in recent weeks.
"We know how important safe, well‑maintained roads are for everyone - residents, businesses, cyclists, school traffic and visitors - and we want to thank everyone who has taken the time to report issues and share their experiences with us," said a town council spokesperson.
A section of Scotland Road in Carnforth pictured last week. Photo: Carnforth Town Council
"Our message is clear and collaborative:
"We’re asking County Highways for urgent attention to the most affected areas, and for clarity on their programme and timescales for repairs across Carnforth.
"We will keep the community updated as soon as we receive further information.
"Thank you for continuing to report defects and for helping us highlight where improvements are needed. Together, we can ensure Carnforth remains a safe, attractive, and well‑connected town for all."
Last week Beyond Radio joined road safety champions Sophie Lyden and Emma Townley from Westgate Tyres in Morecambe (below) on their regular 'Pothole Patrol' of the District.
Sophie and Emma's regular videos highlight the number of potholes in the Lancaster and Morecambe area.
Before going out on Pothole Patrol, our own Facebook page was inundated with complaints about potholes in around 30 different locations across Morecambe, Heysham, Carnforth and Bolton-le-Sands.
Read more: LISTEN: We go out on Pothole Patrol in Morecambe - Beyond Radio
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