The Portsmouth roads with the worst potholes - and what is being done to fix them

Ever since the invention of the motor car, potholes have been the bane of motorists’ existence.

From scattered road damage that vibrates your vehicle, to massive holes that throw you off-course and potentially into an accident, it’s not uncommon for UK streets to be littered with holes and crevices. Portsmouth, sadly, is no exception to that.

That being said, some roads are certainly in a worse condition than others; some have even become infamous for their potholes, with motorists spending years trying to dodge the gaps and protect their vehicles.

Using a combination of local knowledge, online reports and suggestions from readers of The News, we have compiled a list of the “worst” roads in Portsmouth, based on how bad the potholes are.

One such road that has plagued drivers for years is Clement Attlee Way in North Harbour. The roundabout that connects both the McDonald’s and Nissan car dealership is littered with potholes, and has been for years.

Every so often, those potholes are patched over, but this has proven to only be a temporary solution, with the road cracking and crumbling again within a matter of months. The holes are sometimes large enough to throw a motorcyclist off their bike.

Should that happen, and they pick themselves up off the floor and go to St Mary’s Hospital, there’s a strong chance that lightning could strike twice. The roundabout at the entrance, in Union Road, has multiple spots with potholes and road damage.

In a visit to the hospital last week, The News spoke to a hospital visitor who wished to remain anonymous. She said: “It’s really bad, and you can feel it every time you come in to visit the hospital.

“Obviously potholes are bad for our cars, but it’s the NHS that I worry about. The last thing they need is for a pothole to damage an ambulance - they’re stretched thin enough as it is.”

Back to the north of Portsmouth, Portsdown Hill Road has a long-standing reputation for having a myriad of potholes along the side of the road. However, it’s when you pull into The Viewpoint car park - where Mick’s Monster Burgers stands - that you see the worst the road has to offer.

Much like the hospital, the entrance is littered with potholes, although these are far more egregious ones, with some a few inches deep. A hotspot for bikers, most have become used to navigating around them, but all it would take is one less experience motorcyclist to come through and it’s an accident waiting to happen.

Perhaps the worst road in Portsmouth - and one that our readers pointed out time and again - is Claybank Road in Copnor. Situated off Burrfields Road, en route to Ocean Retail Park, it houses an industrial estate with more than a dozen businesses.

There, the road is crumbling, with some potholes almost four inches deep, and twice as wide.

Mirek Zagrodnik from Continox said: “Simply, the road is not in a good condition - it never has been. The problem is that so many heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) use the road, they’re parked everywhere and it’s just not a good place to be.

“The road needs to be completely repaired, but for some reason it just never seems to be done. I don’t know why it’s taking so long for Claybank Road - these are accidents waiting to happen.

“When you pull into the road, you have to drive around the holes, otherwise you will end up with a lot of damage to your car.”

A spokesperson for Portsmouth City Council said: “We prioritise pothole repairs based on safety risk. Any potholes over 20mm deep are classed as category one defects and are made safe as soon as possible, within at least 24 hours, and a permanent repair completed within 28 days.

“Most other councils would not respond to a pothole until it was deeper. We monitor and repair shallower potholes within six months.

“Whilst we monitor the network for potholes, there are many miles of roads within our boundaries and potholes can emerge suddenly. Residents can report potholes on the My Portsmouth App.”

For Portsdown Hill Road, the city council says it will now carry out an early inspection and any necessary pothole repairs will be arranged. The council added that the Cosham roundabout (Southampton Road / Northern Road / Spur Road) is scheduled for routine maintenance in June this year, with maintenance resurfacing pencilled in for 2027.

As for Union Road, Claybank Road and Clement Attlee Road, these are all privately owned, so maintenance and repairs are the responsibility of the landowners. The latter is owned by Tesco, and The News has approached them for comment.