England rates councils on pothole repairs; red areas get £300K support amid £1.6B road funding boost.

The Department for Transport has introduced a new traffic light rating system that allows drivers in England to see how well their local councils are doing at fixing potholes. Based on funding usage and road conditions, the tool assigns a green, amber, or red grade to 154 highway authorities. Cumberland, Bolton, Kensington, and Chelsea are among the red-rated councils that will get £300,000 in assistance. Green-rated regions, such as Leeds, Wiltshire, and Essex, are known for their proactive upkeep. In 2025–2026, the government set aside almost £1.6 billion for road maintenance, an increase of £500 million. A portion of the money was kept until councils submitted their spending plans. Through 2029–2030, a total of £7.3 billion is committed. Beyond punctures, the average cost of repairing pothole damage is £590. According to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, the investment is intended to increase safety and reduce driver costs. Industry associations applauded the openness, but detractors point out that money by itself won't immediately repair the harm.