Councils across England will be required to publish detailed information showing how effectively they are repairing roads under new government rules designed to improve transparency and tackle the country’s long-running pothole problem.
The measures, announced by the Department for Transport on Tuesday, are intended to encourage local authorities to focus on long-term road maintenance rather than relying on repeated short-term repairs.
For the first time, councils will be expected to publicly demonstrate not only how many potholes they are repairing, but also what steps they are taking to prevent defects from reappearing. The Government says the aim is to reduce the need for repeated visits to the same sections of road and encourage more extensive resurfacing work where appropriate.
The reports, due to be published in September, will allow residents to compare how effectively their local authority is maintaining roads and identify which roads are scheduled for resurfacing.
The announcement forms part of a wider government strategy backed by what ministers describe as a record £7.3 billion package of long-term road maintenance funding.
Councils that fail to publish the required information, or do not follow the new guidance, could lose almost a third of their highways maintenance funding for this financial year.
Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said the changes were intended to end frustration among motorists who regularly encounter potholes that return shortly after being repaired.
He said councils would now be expected to show not only how many repairs they are carrying out but also how they are preventing the same problems from recurring.
The Government estimates that pothole-related vehicle damage can cost motorists around £500 on average, with ministers arguing that better road maintenance could reduce repair bills while improving road safety.
The new reporting requirements will also feed into the Government’s red, amber and green rating system for local authorities, which was introduced earlier this year to assess how effectively councils are managing their road networks.
Authorities awarded green ratings are those judged to be following best practice, including investing in preventative maintenance and long-term resurfacing programmes rather than relying heavily on temporary repairs.
Earlier this year ministers announced that up to £524 million of highways funding could be withheld from councils that fail to meet performance requirements.
The Government says all councils currently rated red are being offered additional support, including specialist advice aimed at helping them improve maintenance standards and road condition management.
The plans have received support from road safety and transport organisations.
Simon Williams, Head of Policy at the RAC, said poorly executed repairs that quickly deteriorate can be frustrating for motorists and represent poor value for money. He welcomed efforts to prioritise more durable repairs and preventative maintenance.
He also noted that potholes remain a significant safety concern, particularly for cyclists and motorcyclists, while continuing to cause costly damage to vehicles.
The guidance has been developed in consultation with local authorities and industry bodies, including the Local Council Roads Innovation Group and the UK Roads Leadership Group Asset Management Board.
Kerry Winstanley, Managing Director of the Local Council Roads Innovation Group, said the new framework would create a more consistent and measurable way of assessing road maintenance performance across the country.
Meanwhile, Hannah Bartram, Chief Executive of the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport, welcomed the increased focus on transparency and preventative maintenance, describing the new funding and reporting arrangements as positive steps towards improving local road networks.
The Government hopes the changes will lead to smoother journeys, fewer repeat repairs and better value for taxpayers as councils come under greater scrutiny over the condition of their roads.
What do you think about the state of roads in your area? Are potholes getting worse, or have you noticed improvements? Let us know your experiences and send us photographs of the roads that need attention.
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