Pothole league table imminent for local councils in England

Potholes are the scourge of transport in the UK, especially for those who rely on their vehicles' upkeep for their livelihoods.

As reported by Logistics magazine on 20 March, a survey by repair company Kwik Fit estimated that total costs for motorists from pothole damage to vehicles last year were £1.7 billion, with an average bill of £144.

While the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that local authorities' road maintenance funding would be increased by £500m from mid-April, councils are now being told they will have to publish annual reports detailing progress on pothole repairs or lose a quarter of that extra funding.

All English local authorities (the move does not apply to devolved UK nations) will receive 75% of the extra cash promised, but if a council does not publish a report on road maintenance, including details on pothole filling progress, the remaining 25% will be withheld. These funds will then be transferred to councils that the DfT believes have made proven progress in the war against potholes.

In response, the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils, said the government should focus on preventative measures rather than "reactively" fixing potholes.

Prime Minister Starmer said that a RAG (red, amber, green) rating system would be produced for councils on pothole maintenance. He said that "until now, nobody has known how many potholes are being filled and where they're being filled. We all have the experience of driving from one place to the next and we know some places are better than others."

Logistics UK's Head of Infrastructure and Planning Policy Jonathan Walker said: "Potholes and poor road conditions cost the logistics industry millions each year in terms of damage and delays. The only solution to this is to ensure long-term funding arrangements are in place for road maintenance and that these are delivered as effectively as possible.

"Incentivising short-term fixes will only cause further issues in future. The government must work with local authorities to ensure that our infrastructure is fit for purpose, with deteriorating roads identified and long-term measures delivered as swiftly as possible."

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was "not pretending that the money we're making available will fill every pothole."

Asked whether withholding cash from some councils would just make things worse for drivers in some areas, she said she expected most local authorities would be able to "comply with these requirements".

"We want councils to be open and honest about how they are using that money," she said, "so that the public can go onto their local council's website and see what action is being taken."

Under the government's rules, councils must say how much they are spending, how many potholes have been filled and detail long-term road maintenance plans in reports that have to be published by the end of June.

By the end of October, councils must also demonstrate that communities have been consulted on where repairs should take place.

According to data from the RAC, there are six potholes for every mile of road in England and Wales.

Published On: 27/03/2025 15:00:15

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