UK’s most pothole covered road where ‘two more pop up’ every time one is fixed

Fury has erupted over a street that is so full of perilous potholes that it’s been branded a ‘death trap’ by incensed locals.

Despite council efforts to patch up the treacherous Parkes Avenue in Codsall, Wolverhampton, the menacing crevasses reappear with alarming regularity, much to the dismay of residents.

A bend where Parkes Avenue transforms into Birches Park Road has become a notorious hotspot for vehicular havoc – with drivers desperately swerving to dodge the pothole minefield, risking head-on collisions as they veer into oncoming traffic lanes.

The road’s condition not only presents a hazard but also a daunting obstacle course, particularly for unsuspecting motorists emerging from the bustling Birches Road.

Drivers say they are forced to navigate a gauntlet of gaping potholes or risk their vehicles’ integrity.

One local, who has witnessed the area’s decline over nearly three decades, said: “I’ve lived here for almost 30 years and it has always been bad. As soon as they’re patched up a load more pop up, especially in the winter when it freezes.”

He told Birmingham Live: “It has to be the most pothole-covered road in the UK, I mean just look at it. A cyclist could severely injure themselves down here. It’s a death trap.”

Meanwhile, Ann, a resident affected by the daily chaos, highlighted the compounded risks during peak times. She said: “Parents cut through here to get to the schools to pick their kids up,” she explained.  

“You only need a car coming the other way around the bend to end up hitting one of the holes. People swerve all over the place to miss them. And if it ever snows, you don’t know where they are.”

The persistent pothole problem plaguing Staffordshire’s streets is about to witness yet another round of quick fixes, with Staffordshire County Council ramping up efforts to patch up the perilous pits. According to a council statement, numerous potholes have been earmarked for repair.

Councillor Mark Deaville, cabinet member for strategic  highways, said: “We will continue to monitor the road in case the potholes deteriorate further and pose a hazard to the public.”

However, locals like Ann are far from convinced, berating the council’s stopgap strategy as outright futile. She said: “The council will fix one and then two more pop up in its place,” before branding the situation “It’s ridiculous.”

A glance at Google Street View snapshots from May 2022 appears to back her claim, depicting fresh fissures adjacent to recently rectified patches.  

Digging deeper into the tarmac turmoil, Mr Deaville detailed the council’s action plan, stating: “Our  highways team has recently been made aware of a number of potholes on Birches Park Road in Codsall. As a result of these reports, this road has already been inspected and programmed in for repairs in late October.”

Continuing his address on the issue, he urged the community to report any new cases, saying: “In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the road in case the potholes deteriorate further and pose a hazard to the public. We encourage members of the public to continue reporting potholes to us through the Report It function on our website.”

Further underscoring the council’s commitment to combat the crevasse crisis, Mr Deaville pointed out: “We understand how frustrating potholes are for road users, which is why we have invested an additional £8 million to repair more defects across Staffordshire. This has enabled our crews to fix over 9,700 potholes since this extra funding was announced in May.”

“That amounts to a 19% increase in pothole repairs this year, compared to this time last year.”