The “appalling” state of Scotland’s “crumbling” roads can be exposed today, with over 400,000 potholes reported to local councils since 2021.
A series of Freedom of Information responses received by the Scottish Conservatives reveals that a total of 413,183 potholes have been recorded by Scotland’s local authorities over the last four years.
The figure is likely to be even higher as one council failed to provide figures, while another did not pass on the potholes recorded so far in 2024-25.
Shadow transport secretary Sue Webber says that the “astonishing” number is further proof of the impact the SNP’s “savage” cuts are having on local councils who don’t have the resources to fill in pothole-ridden roads and it is motorists who ultimately “pay a heavy price.”
The FOIs reveal that the number of potholes reported have risen year-on-year and hit over 127,000 in 2023-24, with over 70,000 reported so far this year. Edinburgh remains the ‘pothole capital’ with nearly 31,000 recorded by the city’s council this year alone.
Sue Webber has urged SNP ministers to finally give councils the resources they need to ensure roads are “fit for purpose” and stop motorists having to dodge potholes every time they drive on Scotland’s roads.
Scottish Conservative shadow transport secretary Sue Webber MSP said: “These astonishing figures reveal the true state of Scotland’s crumbling roads.
“With over 400,000 potholes recorded in the last few years, motorists are paying a heavy price for the SNP’s failures to fix our pothole-ridden roads up and down the country.
“The buck stops firmly with the SNP. Their savage and sustained cuts to council budgets mean they simply do not have the resources to repair these potholes and the situation is only worsening year after year.
“The condition of many roads in Scotland are so appalling that they are not fit for purpose. This week coincided with National Pothole Day and these figures must be an urgent wake-up call for SNP ministers to act.
“They must finally give councils a fair funding deal and stop motorists from having to dodge potholes every time they drive on our roads.”
Notes
Over 400,000 potholes have been reported to Scottish local authorities since 2021. 413,183 potholes have been reported from 31 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities. (Scottish Conservative FOIs, Available on Request).
Over 70,000 potholes have been reported so far in 2024/25. 72,848 potholes have been reported in the 2024/25 financial year. (Scottish Conservative FOIs, Available on Request).
The number of reported potholes has increased annually from 2021/22 to 2023/24. 106,130 potholes were reported in 2021/22, 106,853 were reported in 2022/23, and 127,352 were reported in 2023/24. (Scottish Conservative FOIs, Available on Request).
Edinburgh remains the top city in Scotland for potholes. 30,751 potholes have been reported in Edinburgh so far in 2024/25. (Scottish Conservative FOIs, Available on Request; Edinburgh Evening News, 30 January 2024, link).
Shetland uses a specific type of bitumen as its climate is different from the rest of the UK. This bitumen is design to ensure that Shetland’s roads can withstand the more severe climate. Due to this Shetland does not record potholes in the same way as other Scottish local authorities, but the council states they get an average of five per year. (Scottish Conservative FOI, Available on Request).