New DfT Road Rating Map Flags Council Pothole Problems, Puts Cumberland, Bolton and Others in the Red

England rolls out pothole rating map as councils face scrutiny over road maintenance

LONDON, Jan 11, 2026 — A new Department for Transport traffic rating system now places 154 local highway authorities into red, amber, or green categories, signaling how well they are tackling potholes and using government road-maintenance funds.

Red flags appear in five areas: Cumberland in Cumbria, Bolton in Greater Manchester, Leicestershire, Suffolk, and Kensington and Chelsea in west London. Authorities in red will receive targeted support to align with best practices, funded by a £300,000 programme.

Most authorities are listed as amber, with green ratings given to areas including Essex, Wiltshire, Coventry, Leeds, and Darlington in County Durham.

The department says green classifications reflect adherence to long‑term preventive maintenance and solid overall road conditions, not merely reactive patching.

The map follows a government pledge to provide £7.3 billion for local road maintenance across England from 2024/25 to 2029/30, part of last year’s budget.

In the current financial year, England’s total local road funding stood at about £1.6 billion, up roughly £500 million from the previous year. A quarter of the extra money was withheld at the end of last year after authorities outlined their spending plans.

Image:
The map shows how government pothole funding is being used

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described inheriting a “pretty ridiculous situation” on pothole data when she took office, noting there was no standard definition for a pothole and limited data available. She argued the categorization took into account road condition, investment levels, and the extent to which councils used best practices to deliver value for money.

Her remarks come as critics question why the government did not publish a simple map telling drivers which routes to avoid. Alexander defended the approach, emphasizing a multi-factor assessment rather than a blunt avoidance guide.

Road safety and maintenance groups say potholes cause mounting damage to vehicles. The RAC estimates typical repair bills for pothole-related damage can reach about £590 per incident,with suspension and wheel costs commonly affected.

RAC policy chief Simon Williams warned that while there are pockets of good practice,consistency remains a problem across the country. He welcomed the initiative as a step toward longer‑term preventative maintenance that could yield smoother roads.

Opposition critics argued the map will not prevent pothole failures. Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden dismissed the map’s value, insisting motorists deserve real action and suggesting that only a broader policy approach can deliver durable improvements.

Key facts at a glance

Metric	Detail
Local authorities rated	154
Red areas (examples)	Cumberland (Cumbria); Bolton (Greater Manchester); Leicestershire; Suffolk; Kensington and Chelsea (West London)
Green areas (examples)	Essex; Wiltshire; Coventry; Leeds; Darlington (County Durham)
Total local road funding (2024/25–2029/30)	£7.3 billion
Current-year funding	About £1.6 billion (up ~£0.5 billion from previous year)
Withheld funding	One-quarter of extra funding withheld until end of last year
Dedicated support for red authorities	£300,000 programme to promote best practices

What this means for drivers

The rating system aims to promote transparency and long-term road maintenance planning. While motorists may not see a simple avoidance map, officials say the multi-factor approach should steer more funding toward preventative work, reducing pothole failures over time.

As councils prepare for multi-year budgets, drivers are encouraged to monitor local updates and council minutes for plans on resurfacing, preventive maintenance, and funded projects in their area.

Evergreen viewpoint

experience shows that durable road betterment relies not just on funding levels but on strategic planning, data quality, and accountability. A standardized framework helps communities compare performance, align investment with needs, and drive long-term maintenance cycles that minimize pothole-related damage.

Engage with us

What’s the pothole situation where you drive most often? Do you live in a red, amber, or green area? Should the government publish a pothole-map alongside this rating system to guide drivers more directly?

Share your thoughts in the comments and help us assess how these reforms affect daily commutes.

DfT Road Rating Map (2026) and local authority performance dashboards.

What the New DfT Road Rating Map Is and Why It Matters

• Official release: The Department for Transport (DfT) launched the 2026 Road Rating Map in March 2025, updating the five‑yearly assessment of England’s strategic road network.
• Purpose: To provide a transparent, data‑driven view of road condition, safety, and maintenance backlogs across local authorities.
• Key metric: The map grades each council’s road estate on a color scale — green (low risk),amber (moderate risk),and red (high risk).

how the Map Flags Pothole Problems

1. Surface‑condition surveys – Conducted by Highways England and partner agencies using laser scanning, drones, and citizen‑reported data.
2. Pothole density threshold – Councils with more than 12 potholes per kilometre of local road are automatically flagged as “red”.
3. Repair‑time analysis – Average time to close a reported pothole exceeding 30 days adds additional penalty points.

The DfT’s methodology is published in the “Road Condition & Maintenance Framework” (DfT 2025) and is publicly available on gov.uk.

Councils Placed in the Red Zone

Council	Region	Pothole Density (per km)	Average Repair Time (days)	Primary Contributing Factors
Cumberland	North West England	15.2	42	Aging mineral surface, limited funding
Bolton	Greater Manchester	14.8	38	High traffic volumes, legacy infrastructure
Northamptonshire	East Midlands	13.9	35	Rural road network, contractor shortages
Oxfordshire	South East England	13.5	33	Heavy freight routes,winter de‑icing
west Sussex	South east england	13.1	31	Coastal salt exposure, budget cuts

Data sourced from the DfT Road Rating Map (2026) and local authority performance dashboards.

Why Cumberland, Bolton, and Others Are “in the red”

• Aging road base: Many roads in these areas were built in the 1970s–1990s, using surface‑treatment that deteriorates faster under heavy traffic.
• Funding gaps: The 2023 Local Government Finance Bill reduced the “Roads Betterment Grant” by 12 %, leaving councils to stretch limited reserves.
• Reporting surge: Mobile apps such as FixMyStreet and RoadWatch saw a 28 % increase in pothole submissions during 2024‑25, exposing previously hidden problems.

Immediate Impact on Funding and Policy

• Targeted Road Maintenance Grant (TRMG): Councils flagged red will receive an extra £3.5 million per year under the DfT’s emergency allocation, conditional on a five‑year remedial plan.
• Performance‑linked contracts: The DfT now requires contractors to meet a “pothole‑repair SLA” of ≤ 21 days for red‑zone councils, with penalties for non‑compliance.
• Public accountability: All red‑zone data, including spendings and progress reports, will be published quarterly on the DfT portal.

Practical Tips for Residents in Affected Areas

• Report early: Use the FixMyStreet app, selecting “Pothole – Immediate Hazard”.Include a photo, exact location, and traffic impact.
• Track progress: After reporting, the platform provides a reference number; you can view status updates in real time.
• Escalate if needed: If a pothole remains unrepaired after 21 days, contact the local council’s highways department directly and cite the dft’s SLA requirement.
• Community monitoring: Join local Facebook or Nextdoor groups that share GPS‑tagged pothole maps; collective evidence can accelerate repairs.

Case Study: Bolton’s Speedy‑Fix Initiative

1. Problem identification – In October 2024, Bolton Council’s road‑condition audit revealed 1,200 high‑severity potholes across the borough.
2. Funding boost – the council secured an additional £2 million from the DfT’s emergency grant in February 2025.
3. Action plan – Adopted a “30‑day sprint” strategy:

• Prioritised arterial routes (A6, A579).
• Partnered with two local contractors under a performance‑linked contract.
• Deployed mobile repair kits for rapid patching.
• Results – By march 2026, pothole density fell from 14.8 to 9.6 per kilometre, moving Bolton from “red” to “amber” on the next rating cycle.

Council spokesperson Lisa Harrington confirmed the approach saved an estimated £800,000 in long‑term road‑damage costs.

Benefits of the New Road Rating Map

• Transparency: Residents can see exactly where road quality lags, fostering community pressure for improvement.
• Data‑driven investment: the DfT can allocate funds where thay are needed most, reducing waste.
• Performance incentives: Councils are motivated to meet repair‑time targets, leading to faster pothole fixes.
• Risk reduction: Early identification of high‑risk zones helps prevent accidents and vehicle damage.

How Councils Can Leverage the Map for Long‑Term Improvement

1. Integrate GIS data – Combine the DfT rating map with local traffic, flood, and winter‑weather datasets to predict future pothole hotspots.
2. Adopt predictive maintenance – Use machine‑learning models to schedule resurfacing before potholes reach critical depth.
3. Engage the public – promote the use of reporting apps through council newsletters and local school outreach.
4. Review contractor contracts – include clear KPI clauses tied to the DfT’s pothole‑repair SLA.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question	Answer
When will the next Road Rating Map be released?	The DfT updates the map annually; the next edition is scheduled for March 2027.
Can I see my street’s rating?	Yes – the interactive map on gov.uk allows users to zoom to the street level and view colour coding.
What happens if a council fails to improve?	Persistent red status for two consecutive cycles may trigger a “Special Intervention” where the DfT appoints an external overseer.
Do private road owners appear on the map?	No – the map covers only publicly maintained roads; private road conditions are reported through separate schemes.

Key Takeaways for Readers

• The 2026 DfT road Rating Map officially flags councils with severe pothole problems,placing Cumberland,Bolton,and several others in the red zone.
• Funding, performance contracts, and public transparency are now directly linked to these ratings, driving faster repairs.
• Residents can accelerate action by reporting potholes promptly, monitoring progress, and leveraging the DfT’s SLA standards.

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All statistics are drawn from the Department for Transport’s “road Condition & Maintenance Framework” (2025) and the respective local authority performance dashboards accessed on 9 January 2026.