CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL repaired just over 10 potholes a day on average last year — significantly more than during the previous 12 months.

Pothole repairs rise as council faces growing road maintenance pressure

Highways staff repaired 3,623 potholes in 2025-26, compared with 2,360 in 2024-25.

The figures closely align with the number of potholes reported by the public in both years, although defects are also picked up by staff during scheduled inspections.

The council received 156 insurance claims for damage and injury caused by potholes over the last two years and paid out on five of them. The total amount paid, excluding any ongoing claims, was £8,181.

It provided the figures following a freedom of information request by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Cllr Edward Thomas, cabinet member for transport, waste and infrastructure services, said the council inspected, assessed and repaired road defects such as potholes in line with national guidance and best practice.

He said all pothole reports from the public were logged and, where necessary, assessed.

Cllr Thomas said: “Reactive pothole repairs are carried out to address immediate safety concerns. However, the council’s long-term strategy is focused on targeted, planned maintenance to prolong the lifespan of road surfaces and deliver best value across the county’s road network, while working within the available budget.”

A council scrutiny committee heard last November that the number of potholes recorded in the county soared from 1,978 in 2020 to 11,014 in 2024. The figure for the first 10 months of 2025 was 9,146.

A committee report said Carmarthenshire had the second-largest road network of Wales’ 22 councils and the fifth-highest traffic levels.

It said: “The increase in potholes is as a result of sustained low levels of investment in preventative maintenance.”

Potholes worsen in winter when water freezes and expands, causing further cracks.

Carmarthenshire is not unique in having a seemingly endless list of potholes to fix. Swansea Council repaired 6,322 potholes in 2025-26 and received 5,455 pothole reports from the public.

It also paid out £111,175 in pothole damage and injury claims during 2024-25 and 2025-26, although the number of claims paid was only a fraction of those received.

Local MP says scheme could breathe new life into historic Haverfordwest landmark

HAVERFORDWEST MP Henry Tufnell has welcomed the approval of plans to transform the town’s historic Shire Hall into a theatre, café and restaurant, describing the move as “fantastic news” for the county town.

The comments come after Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee voted by eleven votes to two to approve plans to turn part of the former courthouse on Haverfordwest High Street into a theatre.

As previously reported by The Pembrokeshire Herald, the Grade-II*-listed building – described by Cadw as one of the finest of its type in Wales – has stood largely unused for years despite previous attempts to bring parts of it back into use.

Built in 1835 to the design of local architect William Owen, the former courtroom has played a major role in Pembrokeshire’s legal history, including hosting trials linked to the Rebecca Riots in the nineteenth century.

Posting on social media following the decision, Mr Tufnell said: “Fantastic news for Haverfordwest.

“Built in 1835, Shire Hall is a brilliant piece of local history.

“Today, redevelopment has officially been approved for the courthouse and upper-floor restaurant after a long time out of use.

“The space is set to be transformed into a theatre, café, and restaurant.”

He added that the redevelopment would help secure the future of one of the town’s most recognisable buildings.

The post included a photograph of the MP inside the courthouse with Thomas Baden Tudor, one of those involved in efforts to bring the building back into use.

Supporters of the scheme say the development could become a major cultural attraction for the county town, boosting footfall and helping revitalise the High Street.

Speaking during the planning meeting, Drew Baker, the proposed end user of the theatre, described the project as an investment in the “cultural economy of Haverfordwest” that would create a “genuine cultural destination” in the heart of the town.

While the planning application for the change of use has now been approved, a separate listed building consent application covering internal alterations – including proposals for a theatre, pizza restaurant and bar – is still under consideration by county planners.

CALLS for permission to replace a decayed spiral staircase preventing access to the top of one of Pembrokeshire’s historic castles have been given the go-ahead.

Trustees of the T O Lewis Trust sought listed building consent to remove a deteriorating timber spiral staircase and replace it with an aluminium structure at the Grade-II-listed Hean Castle near Saundersfoot.

The application, submitted to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park through agents Acanthus Holden Architects, also included proposals for pointing and masonry repairs to a flue turret, stair turret and south bay of the historic mansion.

A supporting statement submitted with the application said the works are intended to restore access to the castle’s main tower while reducing moisture damage affecting the narrow stone turrets.

The existing spiral staircase, believed to be original and standing around 13 metres high, has deteriorated significantly, particularly in its upper section.

The statement said: “The upper third of the wooden treads in the existing and very possibly the original spiral staircase are now badly decayed where they slot into the equally rotten stringers at this level, to the point that safe access to the turret top is no longer safe.”

Costly replacement

Applicants said replacing the staircase in timber would be difficult and expensive, with much of the original fabrication likely carried out on-site.

They added that accessing the turret externally at high level for repairs is extremely difficult, meaning only limited repointing work would be possible.

The statement warned that continued water ingress into the turret could quickly damage any new timber staircase.

Two replacement options were considered — aluminium and galvanised steel — with both carrying similar costs.

However, aluminium was selected as the preferred option.

The statement added: “An acceptable quote has been received for the supply of a sectional staircase with made-to-measure hardwood timber treads bolted to the newel brackets. The made-to-measure treads will allow us a degree of flexibility with regard to any variance in the diameter of the tube.”

Applicants said the proposed works would secure the building’s long-term sustainability, improve accessibility and address urgent structural concerns.

Saundersfoot Community Council raised no objections to the scheme.

The listed building consent application was conditionally approved by planning officers.