Sheffield parties talk tough on potholes to win votes at local elections
Political parties believe there are votes in vowing to fix potholes
Sheffield’s many potholes have become a political issue as the parties vie for seats in the local elections.
The Lib Dems, Greens and Labour have all criticised the council’s private sector roads contractor Amey.
The Lib Dems have said they will ‘reconstruct the roads that keep failing — not endless patching, a proper assessment of every problem road and a programme to fix them properly’.
The Greens say it was the Lib Dems who negotiated the “disaster highways contract in the first place.” They want to see Amey held to account with clear targets on potholes and penalties if they are not met.
Labour says its councillors have already challenged Amey directly, leading to the number of repair teams on the ground being more than doubled, although no numbers have been given.
Sheffield City Council has a 25-year contract with Amey worth £2.2bn over 25 years, ending in 2037. It covers street maintenance and picking up litter.
Record breaking rain in January and February sparked an avalanche of complaints about potholes.
In mid-February, councillors were called to an urgent briefing with Amey bosses at the Town Hall. But some left feeling “fobbed off with vague answers.”
Amey said it would double the number of repair teams, but did not give figures. The firm has said it will use “more resilient materials.”
Since then, and with improving weather, the number of complaints has died down.
The local elections in Sheffield are on May 7, when a third of the city council’s 84 councillors are fighting for their seats.
The Lib Dems are posting leaflets through doors that state: ‘You've seen it. A road gets patched. A few months later, the patch needs patching. A few months after that, the whole thing falls apart again — and the cycle starts over.
‘Fixed roads are the difference between a several hundred pound repair bill or not.’
A ‘key change’ the Lib Dems want to see is: ‘Reconstruct the roads that keep failing — not endless patching, a proper assessment of every problem road and a programme to fix them properly’.
Tessa Lupton, Green candidate for Ecclesall, said: “When I’m out speaking to residents the thing that everyone complains about is potholes. Whether you drive a car or ride a bike or just want to cross the road, they are a menace.
“We’ve been encouraging people to report them through FixMyStreet and we do this on the doorstep and in our leaflets. That forces Amey to respond. Any pothole they know about over 40mm deep they must fix within 24-hours.
“We’ve heard about how Amey sub-contractors have walked away with roads unfinished. We’ve had to push and push Amey to repair roads in the area.
“We want to see Amey being held to account with clear targets on potholes and penalties if they are not met, but the reality is that until the highways contract finishes we won’t have full control.”
Green councillor Peter Gilbert added: “On the doorstep the Lib Dems are telling residents that if they vote for them, they will fix the potholes.
“The reality is that it was the Lib Dems who negotiated the disaster highways contract in the first place. And while it was Labour that signed it, the Lib Dems chair the committee that oversees the contract - and they have done for the last three years.
“So, with three weeks to go until the local elections it’s suspicious timing for them to have come up with a plan for fixing their potholes now.
“The Green Party warned that privatisation of our highways would be a disaster, taking away our control and burdening the city with debt. The contract will finish in 2037, but due to refinancing we will be paying for these fantastic potholes until 2057. Next time you go over one, thank Labour and the Lib Dems.”
Mark Rusling, Labour councillor for Shiregreen and Brightside said: “Labour has been clear that Amey’s performance on potholes needed to improve, and we’ve taken action to make that happen.
"It was Labour members on the council committee overseeing our roads who challenged Amey directly. As a result, the number of repair teams on the ground has more than doubled.
"New materials and repair methods are also being trialled to deliver longer-lasting fixes, not just short-term patches.
"Things are getting better. But of course we know there is more to do. That’s why we’re focused on driving continued improvement and ensuring roads are repaired properly and maintained for the long term.
"It’s notable that the Lib Dems are only now raising this. They currently chair the committee responsible for overseeing the city’s roads, and have done so for three years, and yet have never brought forward any alternatives.
"Instead, all we get from them is vague commitments.”
"Labour is focused on getting on with the job - with a clear plan and action being undertaken- to deliver the improvements residents expect".
A spokesperson for Streets Ahead - the name for the Amey and city council partnership - said they would not respond to claims or questions raised by political parties in the pre-election period.
They added: “The highways maintenance programme for the 2026/27 financial year of carriageway resurfacing and the repair of less urgent potholes has not yet been finalised.
“Safety‑related defects continue to be identified and addressed through routine inspections and in line with established maintenance priorities.”