The council said it repaired 764 potholes in December as part of its 48-hour repair programme but motorists who spoke to us weren't happy
16:13, 15 Jan 2026
City-wide complaints are growing over the number of potholes on streets in Swansea. Whilst being an intermittent issue in most towns and cities, the damaged road surfaces can be seen in most suburbs of the city, according to reports from drivers, who claim they are altering their driving patterns to avoid them.
Gwynedd Avenue, Heol Gwyrosydd, Station Road, Llanllienwen Road, Brynhyfryd Square, Lon Brynawel, Wimmerfield Crescent, Llangyfelach Road, the A484 in Gowerton, and Mumbles Road have been identified among the hotspots.
Swansea Council insists it is taking action and repaired 764 potholes in December as part of its 48-hour repair programme, encouraging people to report them as they see them. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here.
Photographs taken by WalesOnline have identified potholes at Uplands Crescent, Uplands, Humphrey Street and Hanover Street in Mount Pleasant, Llangyfelach Road and Eaton Road in Brynhyfryd, Byng Street and Plough Road in Landore, and Heol Gwyrosydd and Conway Road in Penlan.
One motorist from the Mount Pleasant area of the city said he had "spent hundreds" repairing tyres on his car within the last 12 months. He said: "There seems to be more potholes than drivable road surfaces in Swansea these days.
"It's become a nightmare to drive anywhere, both main roads and side streets. You're either fixated on dodging potholes, therefore giving less attention to oncoming traffic, or you're clipping a hole and damaging your tyre.
"I've spent hundreds repairing tyres over the last year. The council doesn't appear to have tackled even a tiny percentage of the holes on the road. If they do fill one in it's very temporary and within days a new one has emerged."
A resident from Conway Road in Penlan told WalesOnline: "I think it is dangerous. I saw, one day, somebody riding a bike along here and he went flying.
"We've just got to go slower when driving along here. When you know they are there you know how to drive around them, but it's no good for your car either."
A spokesman for Swansea Council said: "The public are playing their part in reporting potholes to the council. In December 764 pothole reports were made via the council’s 48-hour repair programme and all were repaired.
"The mix of freezing temperatures and heavy rain has had an impact on road surfaces with potholes appearing quickly during the severe weather.
"Highways maintenance teams have responded quickly throughout December, including during the Christmas period to ensure repairs are completed as quickly as possible.
"If residents are aware of a pothole during their travel we would ask them to use our online reporting service so we can be made aware of defect and ensure it is repaired as quickly as possible."
Swansea Council says it will aim to fix potholes within 48 hours of them being reported, weather permitting, with the exception of defects on private roads.
It says response times will vary depending upon the size, depth and location of the damage, and that some large-scale repairs that need more involved work will be added to its work schedule. You can report a pothole online by visiting the Swansea Council website.
Car insurance expert Rhydian Jones at comparison website Confused.com said potholes are an issue which "continue to frustrate drivers up and down the country".
He said: "While recent additional government funding to fix roads has offered some relief, many motorists feel it’s still not enough, particularly in regions where persistent wet and cold conditions cause road surfaces to deteriorate more quickly.“If drivers come across a pothole reporting it to their local council straight away is vital. Even if your own vehicle has not been damaged raising the alert could prevent another driver from being caught out later."
Mr Jones added: "Potholes can cause significant and costly damage with government data showing some motorists paid over £1,000 in repair bills last year. The sooner repairs are made the safer the roads will be for everyone."
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