Motorists across England can now see exactly how their local authority is performing on the perennial issue of potholes, thanks to newly published interactive maps. The data provides a stark, colour-coded ranking of every council, grading both the current state of their roads and their effectiveness in dealing with repairs.
The Traffic Light System: From Green to Red
The system uses a simple traffic light rating: green for the best-performing councils, amber for those in the middle, and red for the worst. The findings reveal a significant postcode lottery for drivers. A total of 26 councils achieved a green rating for the condition of their roads, indicating relatively well-maintained surfaces.
In stark contrast, 11 local authorities were slapped with the worst-possible red rating, signifying roads in the poorest state. The data indicates a pronounced geographical divide, with the majority of these red-rated councils concentrated in the capital.
London Dominates List of Worst-Performing Areas
Of the eleven councils with red-rated road conditions, eight are in London. The capital's poorly rated boroughs are: Bromley, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton, Waltham Forest, and Wandsworth.
Only three authorities outside London received the bottom rating: Derbyshire, Bath and North East Somerset, and West Northamptonshire.
Government and Industry Reaction to the Ratings
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated the new transparency tool would hold councils to account. "For too long, drivers have paid the price because our roads were left to deteriorate," she said, highlighting a record £7.3 billion in funding provided to local highway authorities for road repairs. "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."
The initiative has been welcomed by motoring and cycling groups. AA President Edmund King, a founding member of the Pothole Partnership, said: "We welcome this government initiative to hold local highways authorities to account, which should help to promote more proactive and permanent repairs."
Caroline Julian of British Cycling emphasised the safety risk for riders: "For cyclists, potholes are far more than an annoyance. One unexpected impact can cause a serious crash, life-changing injury or, in the worst cases, a fatality."
Simon Williams, RAC Head of Policy, added: "These new ratings are a positive move that will help drivers understand how councils are performing... We hope this initiative, plus the promise of longer-term funding, means we’re finally on the way to having smoother, better roads."
Kerry Winstanley of the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) noted the ratings, released alongside multi-year investment, would help target support where it is most needed and encourage best practice.
