Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
Devon County Council has approved an extra £3 million to help repair potholes and deal with damage caused by a winter of severe weather across the county.
The funding was agreed by the authority’s Cabinet and will be used for highways reactive maintenance during the current financial year, as pressure on road repairs continues to grow.
Council figures show that pothole reports have surged following recent storms and prolonged winter conditions. In February 2026 alone, around 9,700 potholes were reported, representing a 90 per cent increase compared with the same month last year.
The council says the additional money will help crews respond more quickly to road damage, including potholes, winter-related deterioration and the effects of recent storms.
Recent weather events – including storms Goretti, Ingrid and Chandra – have placed additional strain on Devon’s vast road network, with repair teams also carrying out emergency work in coastal communities.
That has included work to protect properties along the South Hams coastline at Slapton, Torcross and Beesands, where storm conditions have caused significant damage.
The new funding is intended to cover the increased demand for pothole repairs, winter gritting and storm recovery work across the county.
Devon maintains one of the largest highway networks of any local authority in England, looking after around 8,000 miles of roads. Rural lanes, coastal routes and exposed areas can be particularly vulnerable to harsh weather conditions.
Councillor James Buczkowski, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for finance, said the scale of the network meant winter weather inevitably had a significant impact.
He said: “Devon has one of the largest road networks in the country, and periods of severe winter weather inevitably take their toll. The additional £3 million agreed today will help address the pressures created by storms and winter conditions across the network.
“It also sits alongside the significant increase in highways funding we have already agreed for next year, including over £36 million for highways maintenance and more than £100 million for preventative maintenance on our roads.
“Maintaining Devon’s roads is essential for residents, businesses and rural communities who rely on them every day. This additional funding will help us respond to the pressures of winter while continuing to increase investment in the years ahead.”
The extra £3 million comes alongside broader investment plans for the county’s roads. As part of the council’s 2026–27 budget, councillors have already committed to more than £36 million for highways maintenance – an increase of £6 million compared with the previous year.
In addition, the authority plans to spend over £100 million on capital investment for preventative maintenance, aimed at improving road surfaces and reducing the likelihood of potholes forming in the future.
The council says the combined funding will support both urgent repairs and longer-term improvements to Devon’s extensive road network.
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