The condition of roads in Gloucester, Cheltenham, and the Forest of Dean is being described as dangerous by private hire drivers who frequently experience vehicle damage caused by potholes.
Hussain Vorajee, a private hire driver and company owner in Gloucester for nearly 15 years, has urgently called on county highways officials to address the worsening road conditions. At a recent Gloucestershire County Council meeting, he expressed his frustration over the poor state of local roads, sharing that his car suffered damage twice in just a few months.
“I cover many university and school runs across the Forest of Dean, and some roads are virtually undriveable,” Vorajee said. “Several of my drivers have had car damage, including myself. I’ve had to replace my wheels twice in the last four months, and my suspension has also been affected. Most roads across Gloucester, Cheltenham, and the Forest of Dean are very dangerous.”
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Vorajee also relayed a striking observation from a passenger, who compared the roads to those in Beirut, highlighting just how poor the conditions have become.
“I don’t know what Gloucestershire Highways plan to do because, at the moment, repairs aren’t being done properly. When repairs do happen, they seem temporary,” he added. “These roads need urgent attention.”
Joe Harris, Gloucestershire County Council’s Highways Cabinet Member, acknowledged Vorajee’s concerns, admitting it is currently “pothole season” exacerbated by heavy rainfall and freezing temperatures. “This is a widespread problem affecting many counties,” Harris explained.
He highlighted that 15 years of funding cuts and government reductions in core grants have forced many councils, including Gloucestershire, to adopt a policy of ‘managed decline’—prioritizing efficiency savings that have impacted road and highway budgets, which have not kept pace with inflation.
“That’s no excuse, and I share the frustration. I use the same roads and am fed up with their state,” Harris said. Still, he emphasized the council’s commitment to improving road conditions through more full resurfacing projects and increased patching.
The council is investing an additional £15 million into the highways budget, but Harris cautioned this would not eliminate every pothole issue. He stressed the need for better funding from central government to make significant improvements.
Following the meeting, Vorajee told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that damage from potholes has caused a rise in morning pick-ups by Uber drivers, as more people’s personal vehicles become unsafe to use.
“The number of people I’m picking up has increased because many customers’ cars are damaged by these horrific potholes. As a result, more drivers are turning to Uber,” he said.
He has also stopped accepting evening trips to the Forest of Dean due to the hazardous road conditions.
“I’m avoiding routes toward Newent and Cinderford—especially the hills—because the potholes are so bad that I often have to stop to let trucks pass or navigate huge craters,” Vorajee explained.
The situation remains a significant concern for both drivers and passengers who rely on safe, well-maintained roads throughout Gloucestershire.