Potholes - Frequently asked questions
Who mends potholes?
We are responsible for repairing potholes in public roads. We
are not responsible for repairs in private or unadopted roads.
Maintenance of private or unadopted roads is normally the
responsibility of the owners of properties with frontages on such
roads.
How do I report a pothole?
You can report a pothole on this
website by calling 0845 121 2979. We will give you a
reference number in case you need to contact us again and make a
record of your report.
Try to give us as much information as you can when you report a
pothole. It helps us identify its location quickly. Tell us the
road or street name and a reference point e.g. outside house number
together with the relevant town.
You can help us by identifying the size and depth of the pothole
and its location in the road surface.
What happens after a pothole has been reported?
We will inspect the road within 3 working days. We will decide
how quickly we need to repair the pothole depending on the risk it
poses and mark the area with white paint.
How long does it take to repair a pothole?
The time it takes to repair a pothole varies depending on the
size, depth and location. We prioritise works accordingly. We will
aim to repair potholes within 20 working days of visiting the
site.
What if it is an emergency?
If the risk of injury to the public is very high, we will assess
the site as soon as we get the report and arrange for a repair
within 24 hours.
Why have some potholes not been marked out?
Not all potholes need to be patched straight away. Potholes we
don’t consider dangerous or high risk can be repaired during
routine maintenance works.
How does the council keep its roads safe?
We regularly inspect our roads and footways according to
national guidance.
These safety inspections are designed to identify all defects
likely to cause danger or inconvenience to the user of the highway
or wider community. Potholes we identify through safety inspections
are repaired within a timescale based on the risk to the public;
normally 20 working days.
We prioritise other areas which are showing signs of
deterioration for more substantive repairs in forward work
programmes.
Is the Council responsible for repairing all defects in the
road surface?
Utility companies such as the gas and water suppliers are
allowed to use the road to install services to our homes. Sometimes
things like stop tap boxes or manhole covers become broken and need
to be repaired. These are the responsibility of the utility
companies. We do make the utility company aware of any defect and
mark them with paint here as well.
Utility companies may sometimes use different coloured paints to
mark out their own repairs in the highway.
Why hasn’t this road been inspected?
The roads we maintain are known as adopted highways. We have a
list of all the adopted highways in the borough. Roads we don’t
maintain are known as unadopted. The council has no responsibility
for repairing this type road; it is normally the frontagers who are
responsible for the repair maintenance.