A pothole was repaired approx. 2-3 months ago in Wembury along Knighton Road, between 35 Knighton Road & the property called ‘Four Corners’. This pothole repair has now failed. I would like to understand the following:
1. Cost of the Repair
Pothole repairs in Devon are carried out under a day-rate contract rather than charged per defect. However, the average cost per pothole repair across the county for financial year 2025/26 is £146.80.
2. Workmanship Warranty
Repairs are covered by a 12-month warranty during which time the contractor can be instructed to return and remediate any failures. At the specified location, three pothole repairs were carried out in April 2025 under defect references. In response to this Freedom of Information request an audit has been carried out of these repairs.
D253932409 – Failed audit (not cut out to policy)
D253928415 – Passed audit
D253932413 – Failed audit (not cut out to policy)
These repairs were completed as temporary safety mitigations in advance of a planned mastic patching order (D243875214), which has already been committed to the contractor. The mastic process covers a larger area (approximately 34.5m²) and requires additional manpower and materials to deliver a longer-lasting repair. Therefore, while two of the repairs did not meet cut-out policy standards, they served to mitigate the safety risk until the more substantial works can be carried out.
3. Record of Pothole Repairs on Knighton Road (Past 3 Years)
The following pothole repairs were recorded on Knighton Road:
2023: 6 potholes repaired, all classified as safety defects
2024: 7 potholes repaired – 5 classified as safety defects, 2 as non-safety defects
2025 (to date): 8 potholes repaired – 7 classified as safety defects, 1 as a non-safety defect