Government pothole repair league table released: How’s your council doing?

A new red-amber-green map claims to show how well councils are using £7.3 billion of pothole funding, but riders and drivers may want to see the results on the road before they believe the hype.

Copy>If you have ever wondered whether your council is actually fixing the roads, or just talking about it, the government now has a map for that. Published this week by the Department for Transport, a new red-amber-green rating system claims to show how well England’s 154 local highway authorities are dealing with potholes and road maintenance.

It arrives alongside the government’s headline-grabbing £7.3 billion road maintenance funding pot, billed as “record investment” and, according to ministers, finally enough to get on top of years of crumbling tarmac. The ratings are meant to show whether councils are using that money wisely, or simply filling holes as fast as they reappear.

The idea is simple enough, with councils graded on three key factors: the current condition of their roads, the amount they are spending on repairs, and whether they are following so-called best practice, which largely means investing in preventive maintenance rather than endless patch-ups. Score well, and you get a green light. Fall short, and you land in amber or red territory.

According to the government map, places like Leeds, Manchester and Sandwell are leading the way, while red-rated authorities will now get “support” to improve, backed by £300,000 worth of expert advice. Future funding will also be tied to performance, which should, in theory, focus minds.

For Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, the message is that drivers have paid long enough for poor roads, with pothole damage costing motorists an average of £320 per incident – and for bikers, that cost can sometimes be more than just money. Fixing roads properly, she says, will save money, improve safety and restore pride in local communities.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:  

"For too long, drivers have paid the price because our roads were left to deteriorate. I have heard time and again their frustration on footing the bill because they hit a pothole – money they should never have to spend in the first place.  

"We’ve put our money where our mouth is, increasing the funding for local highway authorities with £7.3 billion to fix roads and given them the long-term certainty they have been asking for. Now it’s over to them to spend the money wisely, and for the first time, we are making sure the public can see how well councils are doing in delivering the improvements they want to see in their local area. 

"This government’s record investment will save drivers money on repairs, make roads safer and help restore pride in our communities.While those are notable claims, there are a few caveats worth noting. First, these ratings are based on data provided by the councils themselves. Second, “best practice” is still a flexible concept when budgets, weather and traffic volumes vary wildly from one authority to the next. And third, plenty of riders and drivers will reserve judgment until they see actual improvements under their wheels."

For motorcyclists and cyclists, the stakes are higher than a cracked alloy or broken spring. A pothole that is an inconvenience in a car can be a genuine safety hazard on two wheels. Riding groups have welcomed the transparency, but again, a map does not automatically mean smoother roads.

You can check out the new map, and see how your council is doing, on the official website.

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