If you live in Banbury, you will not need me to tell you that the state of some of our roads is not good enough. I have had more messages about potholes, crumbling kerbs, and damaged road surfaces than almost any other issue since I was elected. I want to be honest with you about where things stand — and what I am doing about it.

Oxfordshire's road network is under significant pressure. Years of underinvestment, combined with the freeze-thaw damage of recent winters and melting of bitumen during extreme summer heat events, have left a backlog of repairs that the county's highways team is working through. Grimsbury and Castle have not been immune. Several streets in my division have potholes that have been reported multiple times and are still awaiting repair.

I have personally walked the worst affected streets with the Chief Executive of the County Council, the Director of Highways, various senior councillors, and I have logged every defect I found with Oxfordshire Highways.

Oxfordshire Highways prioritises repairs based on a risk assessment of each defect. A pothole that is more than 40mm deep and wider than 150mm in a carriageway is classified as a Category 1 defect and should be repaired within 24 hours. Smaller defects are Category 2 and are scheduled for planned maintenance.

The system only works if defects are reported. If you see a pothole, please report it directly to Oxfordshire County Council via Fix My Street or the OCC highways portal. Every report creates a logged record that I can reference when pushing for faster action.

I asked officers to provide a breakdown of outstanding Category 2 defects in the Banbury area and the projected timeline for addressing them. I also asked what additional resource would be needed to clear the backlog within 12 months.

I have written to the Cabinet Member for Highway Management to request that Grimsbury and Castle be included in the next round of surface dressing works, which are the most cost-effective way of extending road life and preventing new potholes from forming.

1. Report every defect you see — even if you think it has already been reported. Multiple reports increase the priority score.
2. Take a photograph when you report. A photo with a coin or ruler for scale makes it much harder for a defect to be downgraded.
3. Follow up. If a defect you reported has not been repaired within the stated timeframe, contact me and I will escalate it directly.
4. Let me know if a pothole has damaged your vehicle. I can advise on the OCC claims process.

I will continue to push for a dedicated highways maintenance budget for Banbury at the next full Council budget cycle. Our roads are not a luxury — they are the infrastructure that residents, businesses, and emergency services depend on every day.

If you have a specific road or junction you are concerned about, please get in touch. I read every message.

Paul-Austin Sargent is the County Councillor for Banbury Grimsbury & Castle. Report road defects at Fix My Street or contact Paul-Austin via the contact page.