On February 21, 2026, the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner supported a campaign to declare a pothole emergency in Oxford, Oxfordshire, to force faster repairs on dangerous roads.
Matthew Barber joined local officials to call on the county council to prioritise fixing broken road surfaces to improve safety for everyone. This backing follows a petition organised by the Oxfordshire Conservatives which asks the local government to change its spending priorities and fix the local transport network.
Mr Barber previously identified specific routes, such as the A417, as some of the most dangerous in the county due to their poor condition. He stated that the most effective way to save lives is for the council to improve the physical layout and quality of the roads.
The push for an emergency declaration comes just one day after the police launched a new taskforce on February 20, 2026, to tackle dangerous driving. Supporters of the move say that quicker road repairs are essential for drivers, cyclists, and the response times of emergency services.
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