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Motorists throughout England can now scrutinise their native council’s efforts in tackling potholes, following the introduction of a brand new visitors gentle score system.
The Division for Transport (DfT) has unveiled a mapping device assigning pink, amber, or inexperienced rankings to 154 native freeway authorities. These classifications are primarily based on the state of native roads and the way effectively authorities street upkeep funding is being utilised.
Nearly all of authorities have obtained an amber score. Nonetheless, a number of areas have been flagged as pink, indicating important considerations.
These embrace Cumberland in Cumbria, Bolton in Larger Manchester, Leicestershire, Suffolk, and Kensington and Chelsea in west London.
The DfT mentioned pink authorities will obtain “devoted assist to deliver them into line with greatest practices” by way of a £300,000 programme.
Inexperienced authorities embrace Essex; Wiltshire; Coventry, West Midlands; Leeds, West Yorkshire; and Darlington, County Durham.
They demonstrated they’re following “greatest follow” comparable to investing in long-term preventative measures somewhat than simply patching up potholes, whereas additionally sustaining good street circumstances, in line with the DfT.
Whole native street upkeep funding for England supplied by the Authorities within the 2025/26 monetary yr was practically £1.6 billion, representing a £500 million uplift in contrast with the earlier 12 months.
1 / 4 of the additional cash was withheld till the top of final yr after authorities had set out their plans to spend it.
In November’s finances, the Authorities dedicated to offering a complete of £7.3 billion for native street upkeep funding for the 4 years as much as and together with 2029/30.
Frequent automobile issues attributable to potholes embrace broken shock absorbers, damaged suspension springs and distorted wheels.
The RAC estimates a typical restore invoice for a household automotive struggling pothole harm past a puncture is £590.
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Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander mentioned: “For too lengthy drivers have paid the worth as a result of our roads had been left to deteriorate.
“I’ve heard again and again their frustration on footing the invoice as a result of they hit a pothole – cash they need to by no means must spend within the first place.
“We’ve put our cash the place our mouth is, growing the funding for native freeway authorities with £7.3 billion to repair roads and given them the long-term certainty they’ve been asking for.
“Now it’s over to them to spend the cash correctly, and for the primary time we’re ensuring the general public can see how properly councils are doing in delivering the enhancements they need to see of their native space.
“This Authorities’s report funding will save drivers cash on repairs, make roads safer and assist restore satisfaction in our communities.”
Edmund King, president of the AA, mentioned tackling potholes is the “high transport demand” for 96% of AA members, and the brand new rankings system ought to promote “extra proactive and everlasting repairs”.
Caroline Julian, model and engagement director of British Biking, mentioned the brand new rankings system supplies cyclists with “clear perception into how properly their council is sustaining the routes they depend on daily”.
Tom Hunt, chairman of the Native Authorities Affiliation’s inclusive progress committee, mentioned: “Councils face a £17 billion backlog of street repairs.
“Solely longer-term funding certainty will assist councils extra successfully plan for future upkeep schemes, focusing extra on preventative measures – which can in the end save the taxpayer cash and scale back the necessity for repairs – and in a position to put money into innovation.”
Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden mentioned: “A map gained’t cease tyres blowing or suspensions snapping.
“Motorists, already being squeezed tight by Labour, deserve actual motion to again them – solely the Conservatives will ship that.”
