Hereford named pothole capital of England as roads crumble

A study found Hereford had more potholes than any other area in the country, with 25,000 being reported to the council last year alone.

Herefordshire Council was found to be struggling to keep up with demand with figures showing just half of reported potholes being filled in.

Jenni Gough,76, in Gaol Street, Hereford (Image: SWNS)

Great-grandma Jenni Gough, 76, said the state of the roads outside her home in Andrews Close is “appalling”.

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“I have lived here for 25 years and I’ve never known the roads and pavements to be so bad.

“There are about three potholes at the end of our road which have been there for three years and they just get bigger and bigger."

The road surface in Hereford city centre (Image: SWNS)

The retired personal assistant said they had been filled about six months ago but are already deteriorating again, blasting Herefordshire Council for wasting money on "pointless" double yellow lines on a Hereford roundabout, which have since been removed, while failing to tackle the pothole epidemic.

Tyre-fitter Jake Bow, 29, says he is called out at least three times a day to rescue drivers who have damaged their cars on potholes.

Mr Bow has also suffered a burst tyre in his own Mini after hitting a pothole in January, and has made a claim to the council. when he went over a pothole last Sunday (28/1).

"It's like whack-a-mole but the council need to get a grip on the situation. It's getting to the point where it's almost not worth the risk of driving into Hereford," he said.

Anne Doverman, 60, in St Guthlac Street, Hereford (Image: SWNS)

Part-time nurse Anne Doverman, 60, says her house in St Guthlac Street has even been damaged by cars driving through potholes.

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The mum-of-two said: "When the potholes are full of water we get dirty splashes all up our front door.

"We've also had a cracked window after a car went over a pothole and it kicked up a load of loose gravel and stones.

"We always report the potholes and the council come out and fill them in but it makes no difference. A few months later they're back and bigger than ever.

"It's a really terrible situation and Hereford is well deserving in its title as England's pothole capital."