Rural roads are “quite literally being washed away” after heavy rainfall, with communities facing mounting repair bills and growing frustration over crumbling surfaces.
Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Liberal Democrat councillor for Torrington Rural and Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Broadband at Devon County Council, said years of underinvestment had left parts of the network in a “shocking state”.
She said: “It is deeply concerning to see just how bad some of our rural roads have become. With all the recent rain, in places they are quite literally being washed away. Decades of underinvestment have left many of them in a shocking state, and residents are understandably angry and frustrated.”
She said the impact went beyond inconvenience.
“This is not just an inconvenience. It is affecting people’s daily lives and affecting local businesses, particularly those that rely on tourism,” Cllr Cottle-Hunkin said.
“Potholes and poor surfaces damage vehicles, increase repair costs and make everyday journeys to work, school, medical appointments and shops more stressful, uncomfortable and time consuming. Good roads are essential for a strong rural economy and connected communities.”
Her comments come as the new Devon County Council prepares to vote on its first ever budget.
She said: “This week the new Devon County Council votes on its first ever budget. I am pleased that Highways are set to receive an additional £15 million of capital investment in 2026/27. This funding will go towards targeted preventative maintenance, resurfacing and patching, the kind of work that helps stop small problems turning into major ones.”
She added that a further £4 million in revenue funding would be directed towards preventative work.
“On top of that, a further £4 million of revenue funding will be invested in drainage improvements, gully clearance, vegetation management and other preventative measures. Given how much damage water is doing, this is particularly important,” Cllr Cottle-Hunkin said.
Devon has the largest road network in England, totalling more than 13,000 kilometres. It is primarily rural, with more than half of its roads unclassified.
Cllr Cottle-Hunkin said: “It is also important to recognise the scale of the challenge. Devon has the largest road network in England, totalling over 13,000 kilometres. It is primarily rural, with more than half of its roads unclassified. Maintaining such an extensive and dispersed network is a significant task, particularly after decades of limited investment.”
She warned that significantly more funding would be required to bring roads up to standard.
“The reality is that it would take hundreds of millions of pounds more to bring Devon’s roads up to standard because they are now in such poor condition. But I will continue pushing for them to be sorted locally and for our communities to get the investment they deserve. I sincerely hope this increase in funding will deliver noticeable improvements,” Cheryl said.
There are also plans to work more closely with town and parish councils in the coming years to strengthen local input and collaboration.
“Let us hope for some drier weather and real progress on the ground,” she added.
