Drivers using a key Nottinghamshire road say they are forced to steer their vehicles away to avoid dangerous and sinkhole-like potholes. The section of Beck Lane where it meets the A617 travelling towards Pleasley Hill, close to Abbott Road, which sits across the border between Ashfield and Mansfield, has seen numerous significant potholes appear recently.

Dylan James, who works at East Midlands Airport and regularly uses the Beck Lane junction, says the road surface started deteriorating around two years ago after the council carried out emergency patch repairs. He believes one part of the junction is now breaking apart. According to James, over time with heavy goods vehicles driving over it, the road has gradually deteriorated to such an extent that loose debris is now landing on cars travelling behind and on the pavement. He described other potholes as looking like craters and said he has never seen anything like it.

The 21-year-old said some cavities are so deep they trigger his car’s sensors. Motorists on this section generally drive at higher speeds, with limits varying between 40mph and the standard limit. James noted that as the road bends, those who do not know the area do not see the damage and continue at high speed, flinging road material which has actually cracked his windscreen. He explained that a bigger danger than hitting these potholes at 5mph is that drivers are going around them by moving onto the opposite lane. He added that this is a main road to Kings Mill Hospital and he has seen lots of ambulances having to drive around them.

James is concerned that extra heavy vehicle traffic from a recently-approved industrial development will worsen the problem.

Nottinghamshire County Council, responsible for maintaining the county’s highways, has recently launched two major repair schemes to tackle a repair backlog of more than £400 million. In February, the authority committed £2 million for urgent repairs at 35 priority sites. Then in March, the Reform-led administration announced a record £122.5 million investment in 2026/27 for initial phase road improvements, a figure expected to surpass £181 million once phase two receives approval in April.

Although the council’s 2026/27 planned roadworks schedule is lengthy, it seems not to include the deteriorating junction just minutes from Kings Mill Hospital. The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Nottinghamshire County Council about possible remediation, though no specific timeframes were provided. A council spokesperson said an assessment team will inspect the road to establish the most appropriate repair method and they will announce when work will be scheduled. The spokesperson added that in the meantime, any essential repairs to ensure safety will be carried out.