Closed petition Fix Our Roads: National Plan on Dangerous Potholes Now
The Government must step in with a national plan: a dedicated pothole repair fund, strict repair deadlines for local councils, investment in more durable surfacing technology, and more transparency on spending. Safe roads are essential for communities, businesses, and daily life.
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We believe it is long past time for the Government to step up and help local councils deliver lasting solutions to what we see as a pothole crisis. We think that for too many years, this issue has been left to drag on without sufficient action, leaving communities across the country frustrated and suffering the consequences.
We feel that residents are fed up with facing endless repair bills for tyres, wheels, and suspensions damaged by crumbling roads, and that it is also a serious safety concern.
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18,110 signatures
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Government responded
This response was given on 4 March 2026
The Government is committed to tackling the poor state of local roads and has provided a record £7.3 billion for local highways over the next four years.
Read the response in full
The Government recognises the importance of safe, well maintained local roads for residents, communities and businesses. We understand the frustration caused by potholes and other road defects, and the impact this can have on people’s daily lives, on the need for vehicle repairs, and on confidence in the local road network.
We also recognise that historic underfunding has meant local authorities have not always had the resources or tools they would want in order to maintain their roads to the standard we all expect. That is why this Government has taken significant steps to strengthen the funding, transparency and support available to local highway authorities.
This financial year, the Government has made available an additional £500 million for local highways maintenance. For the next four financial years, we have also confirmed a record £7.3 billion investment, providing the long-term certainty councils have consistently said they need to plan and deliver more durable and cost-effective highway maintenance programmes.
To support improvement, 25% of this financial year’s uplift is conditional on local authorities demonstrating compliance with clear criteria designed to encourage best practice in maintenance and asset management.
In January, the Government launched a new rating system for every local highway authority in England. Each authority has been assessed as red, amber or green. These ratings reflect factors such as the condition of their roads, how effectively they use the record Government funding available, and the extent to which they are applying best practice.
We acknowledge that some authorities face more challenging starting points due to historic underinvestment, and a lower rating does not necessarily indicate a lack of ambition or effort locally. Where authorities face particular difficulties, the Government will provide targeted support, including peer reviews carried out by sector experts.
This is complemented by wider resources to help authorities improve the durability and efficiency of their networks. We have extended the Live Labs 2 highways innovation programme into 2026/27 to support the adoption of new technologies and materials. We are also updating the Code of Practice for Well Managed Highways, to be published later this year, which will provide refreshed guidance on risk-based asset management and long-term planning.
Department for Transport