Hertfordshire County Council has confirmed a shortage of bitumen caused by the war in Ukraine has had a “significant effect” on pothole repair costs.
The cost of fixing the holes has rocketed by around 22% since April 2021, putting pressure on council budgets.
Before the invasion, around 60% of bitumen, a material used to repair roads across the UK, was sourced from Russia.
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A county council spokesperson said: “The supply of bitumen is a concern across Europe, and it does have a significant effect on the cost of repairing potholes and resurfacing roads.
“We are working with our contractors to actively manage supplies and to focus on the repairs that are needed to keep our roads safe and operational.
“At the moment we are continuing to meet our target repair times for potholes.”
The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents more than 350 councils in England and Wales, said many of its members have been hit by a 22% spike in the cost of road maintenance such as fixing potholes and relaying surfaces since the conflict escalated in February 2022.
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