3.0 Pothole repairs
This section sets out how authorities identify and repair potholes and other defects in carriageways, and how this activity fits within their wider maintenance approach. The Department is clear that prevention is better than cure: planned, preventative maintenance should be the foundation of a well-managed network, reducing the need for repeated reactive interventions.
3.1 Pothole/ Defect intervention criteria
Building on section A3.1, please set out in the table below how your local authority defines potholes and other carriageway defects, and the intervention criteria that apply.
Carriageways
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Additional risk or contextual factors considered (e.g. road hierarchy, traffic levels, location in carriageway) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority 1 | 40mm depth (pothole) | High speed road, position of pothole inline with wheel track, busy junction, high traffic volume roads. | 24 hour | 28 day |
| Priority 2 (high) | 40mm depth (pothole) | High speed road, position inline with wheel track, busy junction, bus route, town centre. | 24 hour / 7 day | 28 day |
| Priority 2 (low) | 40mm depth (pothole) | Quiet housing estate roads, busy roads but considered relatively safe position in carriageway. Planned permanent repair in any location following urgent works. | 28 day | 28 day |
Footways
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trip, pothole |
≥20mm depth |
2 hr / 24 hr / 7 day depending upon severity and location | 28 day |
| Rocking paving flag / block |
≥20mm vertical movement |
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| Open joint / surface cracking |
≥25mm (W) x 20mm (D) |
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| Surface cracking in Cat 2 cycleways |
≥20mm wide |
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| Settled trench: any direction | ≥20mm depth | ||
| Crowning |
≥20mm difference in level |
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| Depression |
≥20mm depth |
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| Tree root damage |
≥20mm difference in level |
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| Misaligned / loose/rocking edging |
≥20mm vertical movement |
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| Gap around ironwork |
≥25mm (W) x 20mm (D) x 100mm (L) |
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| Sunken / protruding / rocking ironwork | ≥20mm difference in level |
Kerbing
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Misaligned/loose/rocking (adjacent to footway) |
≥50mm horizontally and/or 20mm vertically |
2 hr / 24 hr / 7 day depending upon severity and location | 28 day |
|
Misaligned/loose/rocking (not adjacent to footway) |
≥50mm horizontally and/or 40mm vertically |
||
|
Missing, badly eroded |
Action for repair/replacement if necessary |
Verges
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Verge damage caused by unauthorised vehicular parking/overriding adjacent to and running parallel with carriageway edge (urban and rural) |
≥200mm depth |
Report for further investigation |
Report for further investigation |
|
Verge damage caused by unauthorised vehicular parking/overriding adjacent to and running parallel with footway edge (urban) |
≥100mm depth |
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|
Verge damage caused by unauthorised vehicular parking/overriding adjacent to and running parallel with footway edge (rural) |
≥150mm depth |
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|
Sunken/protruding/rocking ironwork |
≥20mm difference in level |
2 hr / 24 hr / 7 day depending upon severity and location | 28 day |
| Obstruction, restricted sightlines |
Report |
Ironwork
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Gaps within framework (other than designed by manufacturer) |
≥20mm wide |
2 hr / 24 hr / 7 day depending upon severity and location | 28 day |
|
Level differences within framework |
Refer to relevant defect within the carriageway, footway and verge items |
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|
Rocking covers and grates |
Refer to relevant defect within the carriageway, footway and verge items |
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|
Missing covers and grates |
Report |
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|
Cracked / broken covers and grates |
Report |
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|
Worn / polished covers and grates |
Report |
Flooding
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Standing water likely to cause a hazard |
Report |
2 to 4 hour response depending upon location and severity | Longer term strategy for scheme development, 2 to 3 months. |
|
Substantial discharge of water across carriageway |
Report |
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Substantial discharge of water across footway |
Report |
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|
Water running into property |
Report |
Drainage
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Blocked gully (silted above outlet) |
Report |
24 hour response | 24 hour to 28 day (or longer) depending upon situation |
|
Blocked grips, highway ditches |
Report |
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|
Collapsed / blocked / settled items or systems |
Report |
Road markings
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Faded or worn markings (particularly Stop, Give Way, continuous centre and edge lines) |
≥30% loss of markings or where a considered risk/hazard is seen to exist |
N/A | Rectification depending upon severity alongside availability of contractor |
Road studs / catseyes
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Missing |
Report |
N/A | Rectification depending upon severity alongside availability of contractor |
|
Displaced item on c/way |
Remove and report |
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|
Void left in c/way |
≥40mm depth |
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|
Defective item |
Report |
Lighting columns / illuminated signs
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Exposed electrical wiring |
Report |
2 hour response |
2 hour response |
|
Missing door to lighting column |
Report |
2 hour response |
2 hour response |
|
Damaged/misaligned/missing items liable to cause a hazard |
Report |
2 hour response |
2 hour response |
|
Leaning lighting column |
Report |
2 hour investigation response |
Timescale of repair depending upon severity |
|
Rust holes developing in column |
Report |
2 hour investigation response |
Timescale of repair depending upon severity |
|
Installations obscured by tree branches/foliage/overgrown shrubs |
Report |
24 hour investigation |
10 day response depending upon severity |
|
Day burners |
Report |
N/A |
5 day response |
|
Traffic signals or pedestrian crossing controls inactive or not operating correctly. |
Report |
24 hour investigation |
Response timescale depending upon severity |
|
Signal lamp blown, lens broken or street lights not working |
Report |
24 hour investigation |
10 day - depends upon severity and location |
|
Defective lighting in bus shelters |
Report |
24 hour investigation |
10 day – depends upon location |
Traffic signs or bollards
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Missing post or bollard |
Report |
N/A |
28 day response |
|
Signs slipped or erected too low |
<2.1m over footways <2.4m over cycleways <5.1m over carriageways |
2 hour / 24 hour response depending upon location |
2 hour / 24 hour response depending upon location |
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Damaged/misaligned/missing signs |
Report |
24 hour investigation | 28 day |
|
Sign illegible, faded, defaced by graffiti, vandalised |
Report |
24 hour investigation | 28 day |
|
Item obscured by hedges, trees, vegetation, other signs |
Report | 24 hour investigation | 28 day |
Fencing, handrails, ped barriers
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Item damaged or misaligned causing a hazard |
Report |
2 hour / 24 hour depending upon location / severity | Up to 28 day depending upon severity |
|
Unstable item or section |
Report |
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Missing panels, sections of safety fencing, handrails, walling |
Report |
Vegetation
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dead or unstable tree or branch in danger of falling onto highway |
Report |
2 hour response
|
N/A
|
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Broken or fallen branches, overgrown trees, hedges or shrubs obstructing carriageway, footway or cycleway |
Report |
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Old tree stumps creating obstruction in verges or footways |
Report |
24 hour investigation | Timescale depending upon location |
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Overgrown foliage, tree branches obscuring traffic signs, street lighting or sightlines |
Report |
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Overhanging foliage/tree branches leading to loss of height clearance over carriageway, footway or cycleway |
<2.1m over footways <2.4m over cycleways <5.1m over carriageways |
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Trees damaged by a third party |
Report |
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Noxious weeds identified |
Report |
Bridges, retaining walls etc
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Structure is showing obvious visual signs of deterioration |
Report |
24 hour investigation | Timescale depends upon severity and location |
|
Unstable embankment, cutting or retaining wall |
Report |
Highways general
| Category | Minimum investigatory or definitional threshold (e.g. depth, area, width – include units) | Target response time – make safe | Target response time – permanent repair |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Spillages/debris/mud on highway likely to cause a hazard |
Report |
24 hour investigation
|
2 hour |
|
Overhead wires damaged or unstable |
Report |
Report to utility |
|
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Street furniture missing or damaged likely to cause a hazard |
Report |
24 hour if dangerous / 28 day otherwise |
|
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Sub-standard signing, coning, guarding and temporary surface ramping at roadworks sites |
Report |
2 hour / 24 hour depending upon severity |
|
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Damaged/dislodged traffic calming humps |
Report |
24 hour |
28 day |
|
Fly-tipping, dead animals, hypodermic syringes and needles |
Report |
2 hour |
N/A |
|
Illegal signs, obstructions in the highway |
Report |
24 hour investigation |
24 hour / 28 day depending upon severity |
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Scaffolding likely to cause a hazard |
Report |
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Skips likely to cause a hazard |
Report |
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Unprotected building materials on the highway |
Report |
24 hour investigation / report
|
N/A |
| Abandoned vehicles likely to cause a hazard | Report | ||
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Anything else considered dangerous |
Report |
3.2 Number of potholes filled
3.2.1
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Number of potholes filled in 2025-26 (estimate) |
1838 |
3.2.2 Of these how many do you estimate were resolved using each of the following approaches?
|
Planned repair / patching programmes |
Planned structural maintenance programmes |
Reactive repair using temporary repair methods |
Reactive repair using permanent repair methods |
|
No Data Held |
No Data held |
587 |
1251 |