William Eichler 06 February 2026

Mayor plans to double pothole repair funding

Mayor plans to double pothole repair funding image
© Patrick Shutterstock / Shutterstock.com.

Mayor Richard Parker has announced plans to double funding for pothole repairs and road resurfacing across the West Midlands, aiming to tackle what he described as the region’s ‘crumbling’ highways.

Under the proposals, £240m would be made available to six councils — Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton — to fund highway maintenance over five years from April 2027. This represents a significant increase on the £120m allocated for the current five-year period.

The plans will be considered by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board when it meets on Friday, February 13.

The announcement follows an additional £20m secured last year from the Department for Transport to support road repairs between 2025 and 2027, allowing councils to fix thousands more potholes in the meantime.

The mayor said poor road conditions were a major frustration for residents and posed safety risks for motorists and cyclists. He added that doubling investment would help deliver smoother, safer journeys, alongside extra funding for smaller safety projects such as crossings, junctions and pathways.

Check out: Pothole Pressures: Refining road maintenance ratings

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know image

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know

Councils and mayors are to be handed a central role in developing skills pipelines for local industries, as the Government unveils what it calls a ‘fundamental change’ to the education system aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Here's what council leaders and officers need to know.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Caretaker

Durham County Council
£24,796 (Pro Rata)
Permanent Contract – Part Time - 32 Hours per week (6am – 9.15am 3pm – 5.45pm) Mon-Fri. Whole Time. Required to start 20th October 2026.   The Governo Consett
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 9 – Pre-Progression (£35,412-£39,152 per annum) / Grade 11 – Post Progression (£40,777-£45,091 per annum). Pay award pending.
We are seeking to recruit two temporary (six month) full-time (37 hours per week) Social Workers, to join our Adult Social Work Team at Derwentside Lo Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Head of Finance - Children & Young People’s Service

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
£75,585 - £80,726 (pay award pending)
This is a great place to work for people who want to make a real difference. Riverside House, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Head of Finance and Accountancy (Deputy S151 Officer)

Chesterfield Borough Council
£72,000 (inclusive of Market Supplement)
In this role, you will provide visible leadership and management across the Finance Service Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Recuriter: Chesterfield Borough Council

Director of Digital, HR & Customer Services

Chesterfield Borough Council
£97,017
Reporting directly to the Deputy Chief Executive, you will lead a diverse directorate, with responsibility for Human Resources Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Recuriter: Chesterfield Borough Council
Linkedin Banner