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North Yorkshire Council trials new pothole prevention treatment

Tuesday, 30 June 2026 15:01

Reclamite treatment being applied on the A684 bypass near Bedale.

North Yorkshire Council is introducing new road repair techniques this summer in a bid to extend the life of roads and reduce potholes.

The council says the new methods will help maintain the county's 5,800-mile road network more efficiently while costs continue to rise and future funding is reduced.

A new treatment called Reclamite will be used for the first time on selected roads, including the local access road alongside the A1(M) between Leeming Bar and Catterick, the Bedale and Leeming Bar bypass and roads near Topcliffe.

The treatment involves spraying a solution onto the road surface to rejuvenate the asphalt, helping to prevent cracks and potholes from developing.

The council says it can extend the life of a road by around five years, costs up to 40% less than resurfacing and reduces carbon emissions and waste.

Other preventative measures being used include retexturing roads and longer-lasting inlay patching, while NY Highways is also exploring greater use of recycled materials.

The move comes as North Yorkshire Council says it is facing a reduction of at least £20 million in highways maintenance funding over the next four years following changes to how money is allocated through the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Despite the funding pressures, the council says it is investing around £28 million in carriageway works this year.

North Yorkshire Council's Executive Member for Highways and Transportation, Cllr Malcolm Taylor, said:

"We are looking at increasingly innovative ways to deliver our highways maintenance programmes, which is vital as we face major pressures on our budgets.

"Our highways teams are at the forefront of our efforts to make sure services are delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible.

"While we are facing very significant financial challenges, we are committed to maintaining the county's extensive networks of roads while offering the very best value for our taxpayers."

Council leader Cllr Carl Les said the authority would have received at least £20 million more over the next four years had funding continued to come directly from central government rather than through the combined authority.

He said:

"The Government announced additional funding for highways maintenance, which is welcome, but we have had these benefits dramatically reduced by the decision to change the way funding is allocated.

"Had the funding come directly to us like it used to for many years before it came through the mayor's office, we would be at least £20 million better off.

"We need to be clear that this will mean we simply can't deliver as many highways maintenance programmes as we had hoped, and that will impact our communities and businesses across North Yorkshire.

"Our highways teams are employing the very latest techniques and treatments, but this is only going a small way to countering such a significant reduction in funding."

North Yorkshire Council is due to receive £63.8 million for highways maintenance in 2026/27, up from £57.8 million this year.

However, the authority says changes to future funding allocations mean it expects to receive at least £20 million less over the following three years than it would have under the previous system.

The changes were approved by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority in March, with Mayor David Skaith and two City of York councillors voting in favour.

Cllr Les and Deputy Leader Cllr Gareth Dadd voted against the proposals.

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