MOTORISTS have been told they face a wait until May for repairs to a pothole-ravaged road in Lichfield.
Local residents have called for urgent action to improve the surface on Purcell Avenue.
Road repairs have now been scheduled – but a local councillor says they are not due to start until 26th May.
In an email to a local resident who had complained about the state of the road, Cllr Matthew Wallens, Reform UK representative for Lichfield City North, said that while he had reported the potholes on the stretch, roadworks elsewhere had impacted further repairs.
He said:
“We can all agree that Purcell Avenue needs a full resurface – and that is something I would seriously welcome.
“I have reported the potholes several times on Purcell Avenue and I have noticed they have filled the bad ones.
“When works are raised by the highways team they are backlogged up to six months, hence why the delay in the repairs.
“The reason why potholes have not been filled was due to the Watery Lane roadworks last year and it was not worth filling them in as Purcell Avenue was used as a bypass and the potholes would have reappeared after a few weeks.
The road repairs on Purcell Avenue are now due to take place between 26th and 29th May.
But a resident told Lichfield Live such a long wait would put people at risk.
He added:
“This road is dangerous now, not in several months. I could hit one of these at night time on my motorbike due to not seeing them as they are full of water.
“I counted at least 18 potholes, so to have the relevant people say it’s going to be so long before it’s looked at is unacceptable.”
When they say 26th May, they meant 26th May 2030
We are all driving around Lichfield concentrating on the road surface and slaloming down the road to avoid damage to our vehicles. But hey don’t worry guys the pot holes will be fixed eventually. RIDICULOUS………….
There are so many roads in Lichfield that require immediate attention.
Rynild Street Lichfield just past the crossing after Darnford Lane it’s very difficult to avoid the craters. I am surprised that no one has been seriously injured.
I am sick of seeing the JCB ‘adverts’ for pothole Pro, not much advertising your fleet of vehicles, no councils have the money to pay you!
I’m the local resident who raised all the fuss, our new MP has gone quiet on the subject despite being copied into the emails? The road is so bad and dangerous I’m surprised no one hasn’t had an accident. May is just another joke this should be high priority.
Maybe cancelling 3 months of pothole repairs over the summer wasn’t the brightest idea. Did that contribute to the 6 month backlog?
https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2025/12/03/conservatives-criticise-reform-uks-roadworks-strategy-after-fall-in-number-of-pothole-repairs/
Try Hunslet Ave in Burntwood. Craters everywhere, including previous repairs. There are more now than I can remember in 25 years.
But he is a County Councillor? Why isn’t he raising this with his party! We all know the roads are in a bad state. It clearly shows Reform can not deliver on anything. You get what you vote for.
Doesn’t surprise me at all. The lack of action on longstanding potholes has become a national scandal. Has anyone caught sight of this much heralded Pothole Pro in this area? And when by some miracle some potholes do get attention, it’s usually a botched job that will be just as bad in a few months, or less. This farce has been going on for years, not just months. What is wrong with this country? Instead of getting enmeshed in political posturing over the Epstein saga, how about the government does what it’s supposed to do, and runs the country? That would be a refreshing change.
Have you seen the state of the entrance junction at Tesco’s in Lichfield. Two months ago they did either side causing disruption for 2 weekends. Now they have to do it again.
Just yesterday I had to get another new tyre and get the damaged wheel sorted. End of Norton lane burntwood . It’s getting beyond a joke
I have reported st Michael road opposite aldi and the junction to enter and exit tesco nothing happening. Also the railway bridge off station road onto sturgeons Hill is now a major safety issue because two cars cannot pass each other without hitting a pothole so they steer round almost hitting each other. A major accident waiting to happen. Lichfield councillors only interested in anything to help them up the greasy pole. Not bothered about real issues
Putting up our council tax and failing to repair potholes – are Reform delivering on ANY of their promises or are they just presiding over more and more flags going up?