A road in Gwynedd has been described as having a 'Swiss cheese' surface due to its numerous potholes, with a campaigner threatening a closure protest unless it is resurfaced. Dave Neve, a former Kent councillor and highways lead now living in Talsarnau, said there were more than 50 potholes on a 200-metre stretch of Cambrian View in Penrhyndeudraeth.
Campaigner Threatens Protest Over 'Criminal' Road Condition
Mr Neve, who is considering setting up a lobby group called Campaign for Real Action on Potholes (CRAP), said pothole repairs were a sticking plaster solution that cost more in the long run than resurfacing. 'The situation in Cambrian View is criminal,' he said. 'There can't be many roads with more potholes per 100 metres. Cambrian View has been left so long without resurfacing that local drivers often divert rather than risking their vehicles.'
Latest insurance figures show that pothole claims by drivers fell slightly in 2025, but the cost of fixing damage is rising. According to the AA, average repair costs climbed 20% in 2024 alone. An ITV Wales survey found that, in the year to June 2026, local authorities across Wales paid out at least £130,000 to drivers in compensation, even though most claims are rejected (99% in Carmarthenshire, 97% in Conwy).
Cost-Effectiveness of Resurfacing vs Patching
Each pothole repair costs an estimated £180. In the 2024-25 financial year, Cyngor Gwynedd spent £750,000 patching roads. Mr Neve claimed this was a poor use of taxpayers' money. 'There are at least 50 potholes on Cambrian Way. Repairing them all would cost around £9,000. Yet the patches only last a year before they need doing again. Resurfacing is more expensive, around £35,000 per 100 metres, but the work will last at least 10 years, making it three times more cost-effective in the long run.'
'When I led the highways department in Kent, this was the approach we always took. Gwynedd's A roads are actually OK, generally, but its B and C roads suffer from having only reactive maintenance,' he added.
Council Response and Planned Resurfacing
Cyngor Gwynedd acknowledged that pothole spending was 'not the best use of our road maintenance revenue funding'. In 2025, the council was allocated £7.8m from the Welsh Government's Local Government Borrowing Initiative to tackle defects on more than 60 routes. Resurfacing is planned on Cambrian View this autumn. A council spokesperson said: 'Planned resurfacing work for this particular section of the class-3 road at Penrhyndeudraeth was delayed while the council has coordinated the project with a separate utilities project, so that the new road surface would not be excavated. The work is now scheduled, in partnership with the utilities company, to take place in October/November 2026. In the meantime, the council is keeping a close eye on the situation and reacting to any defects.'
Gwynedd's highways maintenance service continuously monitors the county's 1,790 miles of public highways, with regular safety inspections. The council explained that weather conditions can lead to increased deterioration, and emergency remedial work is carried out as soon as possible. On average, the council spends £620,000 annually on such work, though this can vary.
The additional £7.8m funding allows Cyngor Gwynedd to carry out a wider programme of road surface restoration. The spokesperson added: 'This type of work – which involves resurfacing, overlaying or improving an entire section of road – is essential as it tackles the root causes of potholes and helps reduce the risk of new potholes in the future. We will continue to carefully monitor the network and work proactively to improve the condition of the roads for the safety and wellbeing of highway users.'
