A leading figure in Dudley's Green Party says his children have stopped cycling because of the poor state of the region's roads. Stephen Price, who is standing for a Dudley Council seat in the local elections, believes potholes are just one symptom of a larger problem caused by high volumes of traffic on borough roads.
Personal Experience with Potholes
Mr Price, co-chair of Dudley's Greens and candidate in the Norton ward for the May 7 election, shared his personal experience: "I was a cyclist when I came here but the way the roads are sometimes – that's potholes at the side of the road – it's not a great place to cycle. My children were both cyclists when we came here but they never get on a bike any more."
He emphasised that potholes are hazardous for all vehicles, but the real issue is the lack of a long-term strategy to manage traffic volumes and provide suitable alternatives. "Potholes are not good regardless of the vehicle you are in but we are not managing traffic here – there seems to be no strategy in the long-term to deal with the volume of vehicles moving around; no suitable alternatives," he added.
Council Response
Dudley Council has defended its efforts, stating it repaired more than 25,000 square metres of road in 2025 and faced tough conditions at the start of 2026 following prolonged heavy rain. Cllr Simon Phipps, Dudley cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, said in March: "This is a national issue that councils up and down the country are having to deal with, not just here in Dudley, but that hasn't stopped our team getting out there to carry out repairs. They are working in all weathers and even overnight to prioritise and repair the most dangerous potholes."
He also highlighted a long-term programme to improve roads across the borough, with increased investment to move away from short-term fixes used a decade ago.
Green Party Vision
Mr Price said the Greens aim to make walking and cycling more attractive while larger public transport projects like the Midland Metro are delivered. He stated: "One of the problems is the amount of traffic on our roads, I would like to see people having choices about how they move around which means they are not always choosing their cars. Investment in public transport is a win win but the problem with these type of projects is they are very slow. You need a long-term strategy but there are other ways you can deliver alternatives faster."
He called for a "layered strategy" but questioned where the funding would come from, suggesting that "wealthy people" should pay more to support such initiatives.
