Senedd: First Minister praises Flintshire pothole technology
Flintshire Council’s investment in JCB Pothole Pro technology has been singled out for praise by the First Minister, who told the Senedd she had personally driven one of the machines.
Eluned Morgan, the First Minister, was responding to questions about road maintenance during Plenary on Tuesday 3 March.
“I’m very excited about the JCB Pothole Pro; in fact, I have driven one, and it was very great to see the investment that Flintshire council has made in buying this new technology,” Ms Morgan said.
“It is actually making a significant difference to them.”
The exchange was prompted by Laura Anne Jones MS (Reform UK, South Wales East), who told the chamber she had spent her morning in a garage in Monmouth after a tyre blowout caused by a pothole.
“Roads in Wales seem to have more holes than your Government’s transport strategy,” Ms Jones said.
“The cost to residents in my region and across Wales is massive, damaged tyres, broken suspensions, constant repairs, and yet people are paying more council tax for roads getting worse.”
Ms Jones called on the Welsh Government to work with local authorities to invest in modern repair technology, including the JCB Pothole Pro, arguing it would save councils and taxpayers money in the long run.
The First Minister opened her response with a dig at the Reform UK MS.
“It sounds like the wheels are coming off Reform already,” Ms Morgan said.
She told the chamber the Welsh Government had provided £10 million to local government this financial year, unlocking over £70 million for additional maintenance improvements.
Councils are meeting with the Government monthly to review progress, and around 200,000 potholes have been prevented and fixed across Wales, she said.
On top of Flintshire’s JCB investment, Ms Morgan pointed to the Welsh Government’s stone mastic asphalt, known as Dragon mix, which is available to local authorities and designed to withstand temperature extremes and increase road durability.
“I know way too much about potholes,” Ms Morgan added.
Ms Morgan had earlier told MSs that persistent rain since Christmas, combined with cold weather, was creating more potholes across Wales.
“When I became First Minister, I took a direct instruction from the Welsh public to fill potholes,” she said. “In fact, I’ve done a few personally myself.”
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