A Farnham pothole campaigner has welcomed the Government’s decision to make councils more accountable for road repairs but says more must be done to ensure effective decision-making and long-term solutions.

Lib-Dem campaigner Theresa Meredith-Hardy, who has been vocal about the need for better road maintenance, said: “I strongly believe that councils being transparent about how their funding is used is a positive step, especially considering the reduced accountability following Labour and Conservative decisions to cancel local elections.”

The Government has announced that councils in the South East must now publish annual reports on pothole repairs to unlock their share of a £79 million extra funding pot. Failure to meet these conditions will see 25 percent of their allocation withheld.

The new rules come as part of a wider £1.6 billion investment in road maintenance, with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer insisting that councils must now “prove they’re delivering for their communities.”

However, Ms Meredith-Hardy warned that simply fixing potholes is not enough, calling for a smarter approach to repairs. “Addressing potholes isn’t just about filling them; it’s about the quality of repairs and applying common sense when deciding which ones to fix,” she said.

She highlighted an example in Surrey, where she wrote to Owen Jenkins, director of place, transport, and infrastructure at Surrey County Council, questioning why single potholes were being repaired without assessing the surrounding area for further damage.

“This issue goes beyond funding; it’s about sensible decision-making and effective contract management. Simply throwing more money at the problem won’t automatically resolve it,” she said.

The Government’s announcement follows growing concerns over deteriorating roads, with figures from the RAC showing that drivers encounter an average of six potholes per mile in England and Wales.

The AA has also reported that fixing potholes is a priority for 96 percent of drivers.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “The public deserves to know how their councils are improving their local roads, which is why they will have to show progress or risk losing 25 per cent of their £500 million funding boost.”

Sir Keir Starmer said: “The broken roads we inherited are not only risking lives but also cost working families, drivers and businesses hundreds - if not thousands of pounds – in avoidable vehicle repairs.

“Fixing the basic infrastructure this country relies on is central to delivering national renewal, improving living standards and securing Britain’s future through our Plan for Change.

“Not only are we investing an additional £4.8 billion to deliver vital road schemes across the country to get Britain moving, next month we start handing councils a record £1.6 billion to repair roads and fill millions of potholes across the country.”

Councils in the South East will now have until June 2025 to publish detailed spending reports, including data on the number of potholes filled and road conditions. By October, they must also demonstrate how they are engaging with local communities to determine priorities.

While Hardy welcomes the increased scrutiny, she argues that better planning and coordination will be key to ensuring long-term improvements.