On January 11, 2026, England’s age-old battle with potholes took a new turn as the Department for Transport (DfT) unveiled a nationwide map grading every local council’s road maintenance efforts. Using a red, amber, and green traffic light system, the government classified all 154 local highway authorities based on how well they’re tackling the scourge of potholes and planning for longer-term road health. The move, according to Sky News, aims to shine a bright, public spotlight on which councils are excelling—and which are lagging behind—when it comes to spending the government’s hefty £7.3 billion road repair fund.
The government’s commitment, spread over four years up to 2029/30, represents a significant investment in local road infrastructure. But as any driver who’s hit a deep pothole can attest, the proof is in the pavement. The DfT’s new map, published on January 11, classifies councils as green, amber, or red based on three key criteria: current road conditions, how much is being spent on repairs, and whether councils are following best practices in highway maintenance.
Green-rated councils—like Essex, Leeds, Wiltshire, Gloucester, Manchester, and Lewisham—have been praised for their proactive, long-term approach. These areas, according to the DfT, invest not just in patching up potholes but in preventing them altogether. The list of green councils extends to Middlesbrough, Darlington, Wigan, Rotherham, Sandwell, Coventry, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, West Berkshire, Portsmouth, and Essex, as reported by Metro.
The vast majority of councils landed in the amber category, indicating they’re getting some things right but still have room for improvement. But it’s the red-rated councils—thirteen in total—that have drawn the most attention. These include Bedford, Bolton, Cumberland, Derbyshire, Greenwich, Kensington and Chelsea, Leicestershire, North Lincolnshire, Slough, Suffolk, Waltham Forest, Westmorland and Furness, and West Northamptonshire. The DfT says these councils are failing to meet minimum standards in at least one of the three criteria and, as a result, will receive £300,000 in dedicated support for planning and capability assistance.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, speaking to The i Paper and Metro, was clear about the government’s intentions: “For too long drivers have paid the price because our roads were left to deteriorate. I have heard time and again their frustration on footing the bill because they hit a pothole—money they should never have to spend in the first place.” She added, “We’ve put our money where our mouth is, increasing the funding for local highway authorities with £7.3bn to fix roads and given them the long-term certainty they have been asking for. Now it’s over to them to spend the money wisely, and for the first time we are making sure the public can see how well councils are doing in delivering the improvements they want to see in their local area.”
The new map is not just about transparency; it’s also about accountability. In future years, funding allocations will be linked to council performance. Those judged to be failing could see their share of government money reduced—or even cut off entirely. The DfT’s hope is that this public grading system will encourage councils to up their game, ensuring that taxpayer money translates into smoother, safer roads for everyone.
Not everyone is happy about their report card, though. Several red-listed councils have pushed back, questioning the data and the process. Charlotte Hill, the Reform councillor responsible for Derbyshire’s roads, told The i Paper, “We have no idea how the DfT has judged us to be in their ‘red’ category. They have not told us why they judge us to be ‘red’… We strongly refute the fact that we are not an improving highways service and have asked for a meeting with officials as soon as possible.”
Peter Thornton, a Liberal Democrat councillor from Westmorland and Furness, echoed these concerns: “We will be actively engaging with the DfT to understand the methodology behind the overall rating and to identify steps for improvement.” Labour councillor Calum O’Byrne Mulligan from Greenwich council called the rating “misleading”, arguing, “We do not believe it accurately reflects the reality in our borough.” Other councils, like Bolton and Suffolk, blamed data errors or financial difficulties for their poor showing, while Waltham Forest’s Clyde Loakes said, “It is very difficult to understand how they have reached these conclusions. We are immensely proud of our track record of investing in and improving our highways infrastructure for all road users, especially the most vulnerable.”
The debate isn’t just political. The new system arrives in the wake of high-profile incidents that have left drivers fuming. Just days before the map’s release, a massive pothole on a Hampshire motorway slip road—classified as amber—burst the tyres of 14 cars in a single evening, causing major traffic jams on the A303, as reported by Metro. The RAC, a leading motoring group, estimates that a typical repair bill for a family car suffering pothole damage beyond a puncture is £590. These costs can include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs, and distorted wheels.
The RAC’s head of policy, Simon Williams, expressed cautious optimism about the government’s new approach. “While there are examples of good road maintenance practice taking place, this isn’t consistent across the country and means drivers have for too long been left with substandard roads,” he told Sky News. “We hope this initiative, plus the promise of longer-term funding for councils to allow them to plan and carry out much-needed preventative maintenance, means we’re finally on the way to having smoother, better roads.”
But critics remain skeptical. Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden argued that “a map won’t stop tyres blowing or suspensions snapping”, telling Sky News, “Motorists, already being squeezed tight by Labour, deserve real action to back them. Only the Conservatives will deliver that.” Meanwhile, Conservative transport spokesman Richard Holden, quoted in Metro, claimed, “It is refreshing to have Labour ministers laying bare just how badly Labour-run councils handle basic road repairs. If you live in Bolton, Waltham Forest, Greenwich or any other Labour council up for election, this map is a warning label.”
The DfT’s grading system is based on a range of data, including the current condition of roads, council spending, and adherence to best practices. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander admitted to Sky News that when Labour came into office, “there isn’t data that has been collected on potholes and there isn’t actually even a definition of a pothole.” She explained that the new categories were determined by a combination of road condition, investment, and value for money for taxpayers.
As the debate over potholes and public spending rumbles on, one thing is clear: England’s drivers are watching closely. With the government’s new map, they now have a clearer window into how their local councils are performing—and who’s to blame when that dreaded bump in the road sends their morning commute off course.
