WEST Lothian Council’s new JCB Pothole Pro machines allowed it to carry out 2,145 road repairs in August.
The local authority anticipates that the new equipment will eventually result in three times as many permanent potholes being carried out going forward.
The investment is having a significant impact already. Since May, the percentage of permanent pothole repairs completed in West Lothian has increased significantly – May 2026 (30%) to August 2026 (75%).
The JCB Pothole Pro allows damaged roads to be ready for permanent repair in around eight minutes, with a West Lothian Council team then applying the new road materials.
Tom Conn, executive councillor for the environment & sustainability at West Lothian Council, said, “Our roads crews undertake a number of roles; planned maintenance works, winter maintenance (gritting) and emergency roads maintenance. This is over and above carrying out pothole repairs.
“Previously, the available resources, combined with the volume of work and timescales for making safe, meant that it was not possible to undertake permanent repairs on the first visit – at the majority of locations. Our additional investment – announced in the budget earlier this year – will ensure that dedicated staff resources are available all year round to undertake permanent carriageway repairs – drastically increasing the amount of permanent repairs on our roads.”
