Essex Highways says a total of 74,728 drains have been cleared across the county between April and August as it prepares for wetter autumn and winter weather.

The authority says this is a 20% increase on the same period last year.

Essex Highways is running four jetting units across the county to carry out maintenance work, while crews  also attend resurfacing sites to make sure drains are cleaned and issues fixed prior to surfacing works taking place.

Following Essex County Council’s declaration of a “Pothole Emergency”, Essex Highways says 60% more repairs were carried out in July this year compared with the same month in 2025.

The council is spending an additional £7.5 million on pothole repairs, funding extra repair crews and dedicated teams working in each of Essex’s 12 district, borough and city council areas.