Another new method is to be trialled to tackle the potholes on Norfolk's roads - a repair treatment which is made using recycled tyres.
Reform-led Norfolk County Council is to test out a specialist repair treatment called Roadmender to fix potholes, cracks and other defects on roads.
The county council says that, unlike traditional repairs, the process does not require the existing road surface to be broken out and replaced.
Instead, a flowable repair material - made by Sheffield-based Billian UK by turning old tyres into an industrial strength glue - is applied directly to the defect, which the makers of Roadmender says can reduce repair times, minimise waste and cut disruption for road users.
Council officials want to test whether, by using the material to treat cracks before they become potholes, it could be used to extend the life of road surfaces and reduce the need for more costly reactive repairs in the future.
It comes after the council previously tested out a specialist JCB Pothole Pro machine, with the vehicle and the operator provided to County Hall at no cost during the trial.
That machine was tested at Fir Covert Road and Cherry Tree Road, near New Buckenham, in south Norfolk and on the B1145 near Cawston, in north Norfolk.
Tom Dickerson, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "Following our recent trial of the JCB Pothole Pro, we're continuing to explore new technologies that could help us maintain our roads more effectively and deliver better value for Norfolk residents.
"There's no single solution to tackling potholes and road defects, which is why it's important that we test a range of approaches.
"While some technologies are focused on repairing potholes once they have formed, Roadmender also offers the potential to intervene earlier by treating defects before they worsen.
"That preventative approach could help us reduce the number of potholes developing in the first place, while making the best possible use of taxpayers' money."
The trial of the Roadmender system will take place this week.
The previous use of the JCB Pothole Pro had attracted controversy, with Liberal Democrat county councillor Rob Colwell highlighting how JCB is owned by Lord Anthony Bamford, who donated £200,000 to Nigel Farage's Reform party in 2025.
Reform has rebutted any suggestion it "would ever trade public contracts for political patronage".
Norfolk County Council is responsible for maintaining 6,200 miles of the county's roads, but not the A47 or A11, which are within the remit of National Highways.
Share