The Government has launched an interactive pothole tracking map, ranking local highway authorities (LHAs) on how effectively they are spending pothole funding and investing in long-term road maintenance.
The map uses a traffic light system to rank all LHAs in England, showing the condition of local roads, how much is being spent on road repairs and if best practice in highway maintenance is being followed.
To score green, LHAs must demonstrate that they are investing in long-term preventative measures.
Red ranked areas will receive dedicated support to improve road condition, backed by £300,000 of capability assistance and expert planning, including peer reviews.
Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary, 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.”
Access to full future funding allocations will be linked to performance. The Government withheld 25% of annual LHA pothole funding until transparency reports were published, which has since been unlocked after all councils submitted reporting.
The Live Labs 2 programme will also be extended for another year, assisting councils in accessing and adopting more innovative approaches to road maintenance.
Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, said: “These new ratings are a positive move that will help drivers understand how councils are performing when it comes to improving the state of local roads.
“While there are examples of good road maintenance practice taking place, this isn’t consistent across the country and means drivers have for too long been left with substandard roads.
“We hope this initiative, plus the promise of longer-term funding for councils to allow them to plan and carry out much-needed preventative maintenance, means we’re finally on the way to having smoother, better roads.”
Kerry Winstanley, managing director of Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG), said: “The release of the national ratings provides a clear opportunity to target support and strengthen the local road network where it is most needed.
“For many years, highways authorities have worked hard to maintain roads despite declining budgets and resources, and the ratings, released alongside record multi-year investment, will enable authorities to benefit from additional support and increase investment in preventative maintenance, while continuing collaborative work supported by LCRIG, including sharing best practices, adopting innovative solutions, and working towards a nationally green-rated road network.”
