The county council has unanimously agreed to review its approach to repairing potholes following a motion brought forward by Usk county councillor Tony Kear after nearly three years of campaigning on behalf of residents across the county.

The motion was prompted by growing frustration among residents about the deteriorating condition of the county’s roads and the persistence of potholes that repeatedly reappear after being patched. Councillors voted to commission an urgent and transparent review of alternative road repair methods, including a full cost analysis and the publication of clearer performance data on highways maintenance.

Councillor Kear said the condition of the county’s roads has become one of the most common issues raised by residents.

“Very few councillors here can say they have not received complaints about potholes,” he said during the debate. “Residents are tired of swerving around craters, tired of reporting the same pothole again and again, and tired of paying council tax only to then pay again for repairs at the garage.”

Councillor Kear highlighted the financial strain poor road conditions place on families and businesses, warning that vehicle damage and unsafe road surfaces are becoming an increasing concern across Monmouthshire.

“This issue has gone far beyond Usk and Llanbadoc,” Cllr Kear said. “It is now a county-wide concern affecting motorists, cyclists, farmers, delivery drivers and parents on the school run.”

The motion recognised the continuing decline in the condition of the county’s roads and raised concerns that the council’s current approach of repeatedly patching potholes provides poor value for money and fails to offer a long-term solution.

“Residents see a cycle that makes no sense,” Councillor Kear said. “A pothole appears, it is filled, and weeks or months later it reappears and is filled again. If you had a hole in your tooth, you would not accept a dentist simply patching it repeatedly without fixing the underlying problem.”

Instead, the motion calls for the council to adopt a more proactive and preventative approach to highway maintenance. Other local authorities are increasingly investing in techniques such as surface dressing, resurfacing programmes and modern repair technologies that extend the life of entire road surfaces rather than repeatedly repairing individual potholes.

Councillor Kear also stressed the importance of transparency, arguing that residents deserve clearer information about how public money is being spent and how effective repairs are.

“Every pothole left unrepaired damages public confidence as much as it damages suspension springs,” he said. “When money is tight, we must ensure every pound spent delivers the best long-term value for residents.”

Under the terms of the motion, the council will now undertake a review of alternative repair methods and bring forward a clear action plan within six months setting out proposals for maintaining Monmouthshire’s roads in a more sustainable and cost-effective way.

Councillor Kear welcomed the decision, saying it was an important step towards delivering better roads for residents across the county.