Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's press release entitled How well does your council fix potholes? Tough new guidance for councils will end patch-up fixes and lead to smoother, safer journeys, published on 9 June 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the new guidance on the number of pothole-related defects.
Answered by Simon Lightwood
The Department’s updated guidance strengthens transparency and accountability in how local highway authorities maintain their road networks. All highway authorities will have to publish reports on how they maintain their network, including how many potholes they fill, whether they do so using long-lasting repair methods, and what action they are taking to prevent potholes from forming in the first place.
This increased transparency is designed to encourage better decision‑making, driving a shift from short‑term, reactive repairs towards more effective, long‑term maintenance approaches, including a greater adoption of long-lasting repairs and preventative maintenance to prevent potholes from forming in the first place.
The information provided will also be used by the Department to inform performance ratings and decisions on highways maintenance incentive funding, supporting continuous improvement across the sector and better outcomes for road users.
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