Caerphilly Observer
Member Sign in Manage Membership
Become a Member - no ads
Menu
  • News
    • Senedd
    • Business
    • Newport
    • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Rugby union
    • Football
  • Membership & Subscriptions
  • Notices
  • Obituaries
  • About
    • Advertise
  • Sponsored Content
Menu

Extra road resurfacing pledge after pothole patch-ups branded ‘a waste of time’

News | Nicholas Thomas - Local Democracy Reporting Service | Published: 16:30, Thursday May 21st, 2026.
Last updated: 16:30, Thursday May 21st, 2026

Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts.

Become a member today

Mair Arthur, the landlady of the White Cross Inn, measuring the depth of a pothole in Groeswen Lane
Mair Arthur, the landlady of the White Cross Inn, measuring the depth of a pothole in Groeswen Lane

Roads plagued by “menace” potholes across Caerphilly will be resurfaced, including one in Groeswen where a pub landlady said previous patch-up jobs had been “a complete waste of time and money”.

The county borough council will spend an extra £2.6 million from the Welsh Government on resurfacing 25 stretches of road and on increased maintenance.

Among the areas on the council’s priority list is Groeswen Road, where concerns were raised previously about the impact of potholes on local traders.

Mair Arthur, landlady at the White Cross Inn, said taxi firms had “stopped calling to my pub in the village due to damage to their vehicles”, and previous repairs had “washed out” in bad weather.

“It’s a complete waste of time and money while my business, the chapel, and our village are becoming inaccessible,” she said.

Potholes, funding pressures and a 300-year renewal cycle: What’s happening to Caerphilly’s roads

Penyrheol ward councillor Steve Skivens, of Plaid Cymru, said villagers were “suffering” and a Freedom of Information Act disclosure showed 56 patch-up jobs on potholes along Groeswen Road in the space of two years.

Earlier this year, Cllr Skivens called for the council to take “swift action on the potholes menace” instead of focusing on “shorter-term” savings and shrinking resurfacing budgets in previous years.

In reply, a council spokesperson said pothole repair work “continues at pace” and urged residents to “bear with us”.

“In the past two years alone we resurfaced over 400,000 square metres of road surface and repaired in excess of 8,000 potholes,” the spokesperson added at the time.

The new resurfacing programme is funded by £2.6 million Welsh Government funding announced in March, and council cabinet members will also set aside £400,000 of that money for “reactive maintenance” of potholes when required.

The council had already designated £4 million for resurfacing works in this year’s budget.

Following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday May 20, council leader Jamie Pritchard said the local authority was “listening to feedback from the community” and is “committed” to resurfacing roads across the borough.

“We want to plough this additional funding into urgently improving the highway network, because we know residents are concerned about the condition of some local roads,” he added.


Sign-up to our daily newsletter


Latest News

  • Caerphilly County Borough Council's headquarters in Tredomen
    Row over Freedom of Information requests as council workload piles upMonday, July 6, 2026
  • Weekly music sessions helping adults build confidence and friendshipsMonday, July 6, 2026
  • Community groups urged to apply for share of £5m fundMonday, July 6, 2026
  • cricket stock image
    Cricket catchup: First victory of season for Crumlin as others’ winning streaks run outMonday, July 6, 2026
  • From left: Tom Williams, Mike Bubbins, Ffion Hughes and Gareth Jones
    Ffos Caerffili to host new national awards celebrating the best of Welsh beerMonday, July 6, 2026
  • Michael Chopra makes Trethomas Bluebirds debut in charity legends matchMonday, July 6, 2026

Find out how the communities of Caerphilly County Borough get their names

Caerphilly

Legal & Public Notices

  • Notice of application for a premises licence: Hollybush RFCTuesday, June 16, 2026
  • Notice of application for a premises licence: Cefn Fforest Miners Welfare HallFriday, June 12, 2026
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, June 11, 2026
  • Notice of application for a premises licence: Cross Oak Inn, OakdaleFriday, June 5, 2026
© 2009-2026 Caerphilly Media Ltd, Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community Watford Road Caerphilly, CF83 1BJ. Incorporated in Wales No. 07604006.