Monmouthshire Council will begin investing in a new form of pothole repair equipment to reduce the need for ‘repeat’ visits to the same sites.

A new Bobcat Skid Steer is among the new machinery that is on its way in, which will be used alongside a new “more durable” repair material which will be used in colder and wetter weather to maximise the life of any necessary repairs.

There will also be two new jobs created to focus on the issue, as the council intents to advertise posts for two new highways inspectors.

“We know potholes are a real concern for people across Monmouthshire. Residents want to know that when they report a problem, it will be looked at, prioritised and repaired in the right way,” said Cllr Catrin Maby, Monmouthshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment.

“These changes are about improving how we respond, making the best use of the tools and materials available to us, and keeping residents better informed about the work being done on our roads.”

The council has also promised to make improvements to the My Monmouthshire, the council’s online service portal, to make it easier for residents to report any issues, add photos, see progress updates and avoid any duplicate reports.

The changes have been approved by full council, in response to concerns raised by residents and councillors about the condition of local roads. Over the past 12 months, the council says has reviewed how potholes are reported, inspected, prioritised and repaired, as well as increasing the budget for highways maintenance.

The number of potholes reported across Monmouthshire has risen by over 500 per cent over the course of nine years, while 838 were reported in the first three months of this financial year. Just under half of those are still waiting to be repaired.