National Pothole Day: Who Fixes Potholes in Your Area?
As National Pothole Day 2026 approaches, we've delved into the pothole management practices across the south of England. The responsibility for pothole repairs, repair times, and investment levels vary significantly from one region to another.
Here's a comprehensive guide to the pothole situation in your area.
OXFORDSHIRE
Responsibility:
- Most roads: Oxfordshire County Council
- M40 and major A-roads (A34): National Highways
Funding:
- Pothole repairs are part of the council's broader highways maintenance program.
- 2024/25: £62.5m
- 2025/26: Projected £69.2m
- Additional reactive repairs may be required based on road conditions and weather.
Pothole Count:
- 37,042 potholes filled in 2024/25
Response Time:
- Serious defects: Inspected and addressed within hours
- Less urgent issues: Repaired within days or scheduled for regular maintenance
Reporting:
- Online: https://fixmystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk/
BERKSHIRE
Responsibility:
- Reading Borough Council, West Berkshire Council, and others: Unitary councils
- M4, M3, A34: National Highways
Funding:
- Pothole repairs funded through councils' highways maintenance budgets.
Budget Breakdown:
- West Berkshire Council: £13.9m (2024/25), £19.1m (2025/26)
- Bracknell Forest Council: £8.6m (2024/25), £9.3m (2025/26)
- Slough Borough Council: £1.1m (2024/25), £1.9m (2025/26)
- Wokingham Borough Council: £6.1m (2024/25), £7.6m (2025/26)
- Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead: £11.7m (2024/25), £16.0m (2025/26)
- Reading Borough Council: £9.6m (2024/25), £8.4m (2025/26)
Pothole Count:
- West Berkshire Council: 3,048
- Bracknell Forest Council: 1,007
- Slough Borough Council: 1,393
- Wokingham Borough Council: 2,052
- Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead: 2,791
- Reading Borough Council: 1,590
Response Time:
- Councils prioritize potholes using risk-based systems.
- West Berkshire Council: Response times vary by defect severity.
- Bracknell Forest Council: Urgent defects within 2-24 hours, lower-risk within 28 days.
- Wokingham Borough Council: Defects prioritized by risk.
- Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead: Priority-based system for road repairs.
- Reading Borough Council: Response times range from 3 hours to 28 days.
- Slough Borough Council: Risk-based priority system, no specific target timescales published.
Reporting:
- West Berkshire: Website or phone
- Bracknell Forest: Online reporting form
- Wokingham Borough: Online forms
- Slough: Online highways reporting system
- Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead: Online reporting service
- Reading Borough Council: Website
HAMPSHIRE
Responsibility:
- Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council: Highway authorities
- National Highways: Motorways and major A-roads (M3, M27, M271, A3(M), sections of A34)
Funding:
- Pothole repairs funded through councils' highways maintenance budgets.
Budget:
- Hampshire County Council: £120m (2024/25), £103.8m (2025/26)
- Southampton City Council: £7.9m (2024/25), £8.1m (2025/26)
- Portsmouth City Council: £33.5m (2024/25), £34.5m (2025/26)
Pothole Count:
- Hampshire County Council: 32,419
- Southampton City Council: 4,247
- Portsmouth City Council: 1,510
Response Time:
- Southampton City Council: Prioritized by risk; emergencies within 24 hours, non-urgent within 6 months.
- Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council: Prioritized by risk and road category; no specific target timescales.
Reporting:
- Online: Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council
ISLE OF WIGHT
Responsibility:
- Isle of Wight Council: Local roads
- Island Roads Services Ltd: Highway maintenance through a PFI contract
Funding:
- No traditional annual highways maintenance budget.
- 25-year PFI contract with Island Roads Services Ltd, with an annual Unitary Charge.
Pothole Count:
- 9,715 potholes filled in 2024/25
Response Time:
- Potholes inspected and repaired within set timescales based on risk assessment.
- Regular inspections: Monthly, quarterly, or annually depending on road type.
Reporting:
- Online: https://fms.islandroads.com/
DORSET
Responsibility:
- Dorset Council, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council: Unitary authorities
- National Highways: Motorways and major A-roads (A31, A35)
Funding:
- Pothole repairs funded through councils' highways maintenance budgets.
Budget:
- Dorset Council: £25.2m (2024/25), £32.6m (2025/26)
- BCP Council: £8.6m (2024/25), £9.6m (2025/26)
Pothole Count:
- Dorset Council: 10,725
- BCP Council: 3,300
Response Time:
- Dorset Council: Prioritized by location, size, depth, and road type.
- Aims to repair highest-risk potholes within 32 hours, lower-risk within 28 days.
- BCP Council: Average time from report to repair under 10 days, halved over 5 years.
Reporting:
- Dorset Council: Website
- BCP Council: Online reporting system
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Responsibility:
- England's Strategic Road Network: Motorways and major A-roads
Condition:
- 96.2% of roads in good condition, a target met for the past seven years.
Maintenance:
- Annual road condition surveys and daily safety inspections.
- Most serious potholes and defects repaired within 24 hours, permanent repairs within 28 days.
- £2bn spent on resurfacing the strategic road network during the current funding period.
Reporting:
- Online: https://report.nationalhighways.co.uk/
- Customer contact center
