Sidmouth Town Council has announced the successful repair of over 400 potholes in 12 months across the town by a team of dedicated Road Wardens and volunteers.
This significant community effort, supported by Devon County Council Highways Officers and the Town Council, has not only improved road safety and quality but also delivered these essential repairs more quickly and at reduced cost while galvanising local people to help improve our neighbourhood.
The initiative of Sidmouth Town Council’s Environment Committee, which has grown beyond the initial Road Warden Scheme, combines strong community action and collaboration with professional contractors. Volunteers, including Road Warden and Sidmouth Town Councillor Paul Dodds, have been instrumental in identifying and addressing road damage.
“Sidmouth Town Councillors listen to the concerns of our fellow citizens and act on them,” said Cllr Dodds. “One of residents’ biggest concerns is the state of our roads, and we know that potholes are both a danger to road safety and cost our residents hundreds of thousands of pounds in vehicle repairs every year. So, while the responsibility for repairing our highways sits with our County Council, we wanted to see what the Town Council and community volunteers could do on a local level to improve the situation.” He continued, “Only the County Council can repair major roads for legal and safety reasons, and we can’t mend larger potholes which require significant structural repairs, but our volunteers are able to tackle smaller potholes in residential roads across the Valley, representing 90% of our road surface, and the roads we all use most often every day. Our early intervention is effective in stopping minor problems becoming a major headache.”
Volunteer teams of “Pothole Posses” regularly gather for two hour shifts to tackle repairs. Notable repairs include the 400th pothole on Primley Road outside Sidmouth College, addressing 70 holes in Malden Road, and fixing 13 holes on Harcombe Road, among many others.
Cllr Dodds, who leads the volunteer teams, reports that public reaction has been hugely positive. “I’d like to thank all the councillors, council officers and volunteers who made this possible, as well as members of the public for the tea and cake!” Cllr Dodds said.
Sidmouth Town Council’s Environment Committee has reviewed the achievements of the scheme over the past year and agreed to devote significant funding to the program for another year, ensuring its continued success in maintaining Sidmouth’s roads effectively and affordably for the people who live and work in the Sid Valley.
Councillor Ian Barlow, Chair of the Council’s Environment Committee commented: “Roads are not the responsibility of Sidmouth Town Council but we know it is one of the main concerns of Sidmouth Residents. We have set up this Pilot Project with Devon County Council support to help tackle the problem at a fraction of the usual costs.”
Red Arrows and RAF Dakota to head up Regatta Airshow 2026!
Give your views on how nature can thrive in Exeter
Exeter’s oldest building needs major roof repairs
Karting track seeks extra permissions to host 3,000-person event
City-centre footbridge set to close for essential maintenance
£2.6 million investment to upgrade gas network across wider Exeter area
Exmouth Placemaking Plan adopted, paving the way for major improvements to the town centre and seafront
WANTED: Andrew Murphy, Exeter
