DfT caveat: The Department for Transport notes that Barking and Dagenham's overall and best-practice scorecards for 2025/26 are based on incomplete carriageway treatment data.
48.6% of A-Roads in RED Condition — Nearly Double the London Average
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham earns AMBER DfT scorecards on overall performance, condition and best practice — yet GREEN on spend. Its June 2025 transparency report records 48.6% of principal roads in RED condition at the 2024/25 survey (London average: 29%), pothole repairs more than doubling to 2,500 in 2022/23, and 76.9% of residential roads in amber or red. The council admits more investment is needed. Section 58 still turns on your specific defect.
What the DfT scorecards actually show
Four separate ratings — not a single headline — from the 2025/26 local road maintenance release
| Scorecard | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | amber |
| Condition | amber |
| Spend | green |
| Wider best practice | amber |
What AMBER condition means: Principal roads are in worse shape than most London boroughs — 48.6% RED at the latest survey versus a 29% capital average. RED banding means major deterioration where maintenance should be considered, not merely cosmetic wear.
Why spend is GREEN: Projected 2025/26 capital spend of £5.877m is more than ten times the £556,000 DfT allocation, with 88% classified as preventative. Aggregate investment does not prove the individual pothole that damaged your vehicle was inspected and repaired within reasonable intervals.
Data caveat: The DfT notes Barking and Dagenham's overall and best-practice scorecards reflect incomplete carriageway treatment data. The council's June 2025 transparency report (V1.0) also states no A-road LoHEG surveys were carried out in 2020/21 or 2021/22 due to Covid-19 restrictions, and B/C plus U-roads are surveyed bi-annually — half the network each year. Do not treat network tables as proof of your street's condition on the day of your incident.
Source: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026
334.8km of Roads — Mostly Residential
Network scale from Barking and Dagenham's June 2025 transparency report — where pothole claims actually happen
| Asset | Scale |
|---|---|
| Footways | 620.0km |
| Public rights of way (other) | 16km |
| Cycleways | 58.8km |
| Bridge structures and overline bridges | 23 structures, 18 overline bridges, 1 river barrage |
| Street lighting columns | 19,258 |
| Highway gullies | 16,786 |
"Principal (A) Roads carry most bus routes, vehicular traffic and cyclists across the Borough and form the principal road network. B & C roads serve as the main links between the A roads and the unclassified (U) Roads that are predominantly residential quieter roads."
— London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (June 2025, V1.0)
What AMBER Condition Actually Shows
LoHEG AI-led surveys on A-roads — B/C and U-roads measured bi-annually on alternating halves
Methodology caveat: A-road condition is collected through driven surveys where defects are identified using a trained AI model. B and C roads and unclassified roads are surveyed bi-annually, with half the network surveyed in one year and the other half the following year. No A-road surveys were done in 2020/21 or 2021/22 due to Covid-19 restrictions. Survey results reflect conditions at the time of assessment.
A roads (30.1km) — surveyed annually via LoHEG
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21–2021/22 | No survey (Covid-19) | ||
| 2022/23 | 48.3% | 20.7% | 30.9% |
| 2023/24 | 54.7% | 22.0% | 23.3% |
| 2024/25 | 48.6% | 23.3% | 31.1% |
RED share peaked at 54.7% in 2023/24 before easing to 48.6% — still nearly 68% higher than the 29% London average the council cites for 2024/25.
+19.6 percentage points above London average
"Principal roads are in a higher state of disrepair than the London average of 29% in 2024/25, with around half of the A roads in poor condition."
— London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (June 2025, V1.0)
B/C and U roads — where most claims start
| Road class | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| B and C roads (28.0km) | 7.5% | 49.6% | 42.8% |
| U roads (276.7km) | 15.1% | 61.8% | 23.1% |
At the latest survey, 76.9% of unclassified residential roads were in amber or red condition — roughly 213km of the borough's network. Only 23.1% of U-roads were green-rated. The council prioritises A-roads, bus routes and access to essential services under its risk-based hierarchy, meaning residential streets receive lower priority for planned maintenance.
"More investment is needed to counter the deterioration and bring the overall Borough Principal Road Network up to a good condition."
— London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (June 2025, V1.0)
Following the Money
GREEN spend — but historical resurfacing output stayed at 5–7km a year until 2025/26
| Year | DfT capital (£000s) | Capital spend (£000s) | Revenue spend (£000s) | km resurfaced | Preventative | Reactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (proj.) | 556 | 5,877 | 785 | 14.3 | 88% | 12% |
| 2024/25 | 171 | 5,677 | 746 | 5.9 | 88% | 12% |
| 2023/24 | 171 | 4,250 | 746 | 6.4 | 85% | 15% |
| 2022/23 | — | 3,627 | 746 | 5.3 | 83% | 17% |
| 2021/22 | — | 3,870 | 730 | 6.6 | 84% | 16% |
| 2020/21 | — | 3,380 | 626 | 5.4 | 84% | 16% |
Why spend is GREEN
Capital spend has risen from £3.4m in 2020/21 to a projected £5.9m in 2025/26, while preventative maintenance share climbed to 88%. The council invests far beyond its DfT capital allocation — and plans 14.3km of carriageway treatment this year with DfT and TfL support, up from the historical 5–7km band.
Why claims still happen
Even with 88% preventative spend planned, the council budgets 12% for reactive defect response and expects ~2,000 pothole patches this year based on historical trends. High preventative percentages did not prevent A-road RED ratings near 50% or pothole volumes doubling in 2022/23. Spend volume does not prove every defect was caught within inspection intervals.
Pothole Repairs Doubled — and Stayed Elevated
Estimated potholes filled from the council's June 2025 transparency report
| Year | Potholes filled | Change vs 2021/22 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 1,446 | Baseline |
| 2022/23 | 2,500 | +72.9% |
| 2023/24 | 2,445 | +69.1% |
| 2024/25 | 2,039 | +41.0% |
| 2025/26 (projected) | ~2,000 | Council estimate |
"For carriageways, between 2,000 and 2,500 potholes have been repaired during the past 3 financial years, as seen in Table 3. Based on that trend, we expect a similar number for 2025/26. We are aiming to reduce this number by increasing our planned maintenance that addresses the underlying structural issues and aims to prevents potholes from forming."
— London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (June 2025, V1.0)
Nearly six patches a day
2,039 pothole repairs in 2024/25 works out to roughly 5.6 patches per day across 334.8km. The council acknowledges reactive patching addresses safety but not underlying structural failure — which is why it separates major resurfacing schemes from thin surfacing and pothole infills.
Inspections, Surveys and Section 58
How Barking and Dagenham says it knows the condition of its network — and where gaps appear
Survey and inspection frequency
- • A roads: annual LoHEG AI-led driven surveys across London
- • B/C and U roads: bi-annual surveys — half the network each year
- • Safety inspections: from every two weeks to once a year, depending on road hierarchy
- • Defect reports: ad-hoc inspections following public reports or claims
Risk-based hierarchy
The council sets inspection frequency and repair response times using a hierarchy based on usage levels, essential services, schools, town centres and other traffic generators — aligned with LoTAG and the Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure code.
Works programmes prioritise engineering need, asset condition and social benefit — meaning residential streets with lower hierarchy scores may wait longer between surveys and planned treatments.
Section 41 vs Section 58
Under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, Barking and Dagenham must maintain public highways — a duty the council cites explicitly. To defend a claim under Section 58, it must show a reasonable system for inspecting and repairing the specific defect — not just publish an AMBER DfT scorecard or a GREEN spend label.
- • Was your road on the bi-annual B/C or U-road survey cycle — and had it been surveyed recently?
- • Did the defect meet intervention criteria during routine safety inspections?
- • Were there prior reports (council portal, FixMyStreet) giving actual notice?
- • Does photographic evidence show defect age beyond the inspection interval?
"We aim to prioritise planned improvements; however, we have a statutory duty under the Highways Act (1980) to keep the highway safe and accessible to the public. This means we will have to respond to defects on our network when they appear."
— London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (June 2025, V1.0)
Planned Work 2025/26
What Barking and Dagenham says it will deliver this financial year
"This year, 8.2km of A roads are in the works programme, which amounts to around 25% of the total principal road network."
— London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (June 2025, V1.0)
Coverage maths
Even at the exceptional 14.3km resurfacing programme, the borough would treat roughly 4.3% of its 334.8km carriageway network in a single year. The remaining 96%+ relies on reactive patching, routine inspections and the bi-annual condition survey cycle — on a network where 76.9% of U-roads were already amber or red at the last published survey.
Claiming Against an AMBER-Rated Borough
Honest assessment: Barking and Dagenham invests beyond its DfT allocation — but condition data tells a mixed story
What works in the council's favour
- ✓ GREEN spend scorecard — £5.877m capital vs £556k DfT allocation projected
- ✓ 88% preventative spend planned for 2025/26
- ✓ Exceptional 14.3km resurfacing programme — well above historical 5–7km
- ✓ Documented risk-based asset management aligned to WMHI code
- ✓ A-road RED share eased from 54.7% (2023/24) to 48.6% (2024/25)
Expect a structured Section 58 defence citing inspection hierarchy and increased 2025/26 investment.
What works in yours
- ✗ AMBER overall, condition and best-practice DfT scorecards
- ✗ DfT incomplete carriageway treatment data flag on overall and best-practice ratings
- ✗ 48.6% A-road RED — 19.6 points above the 29% London average
- ✗ 276.7km of U-roads — 83% of network — with 76.9% in amber or red at last survey
- ✗ Pothole fills surged 73% in 2022/23 and remain ~40% above 2021/22 baseline
- ✗ Council admits more investment is needed to counter deterioration
The winning strategy here is specificity
Against a borough with GREEN spend but AMBER condition, your claim lives or dies on the specific defect and road type:
- • Prior reports of the same pothole — proof of actual notice beyond bi-annual survey cycles
- • Photos showing defect size, depth and visible age (weathered edges, previous patching)
- • Road class — on a U-road, the bi-annual survey gap and 76.9% amber/red snapshot are structural arguments
- • Whether the council can produce inspection records for your street, not just borough-wide averages
Fixtyer builds exactly this case: prior-report search, photo assessment, and citations from Barking and Dagenham's own June 2025 transparency data — including the DfT incomplete-treatment-data caveat — where it helps you.
Report a pothole to Barking and Dagenham Council
Reporting a defect creates a record the council had notice. Do this before claiming — and tell us when you reported it so we can reference it in your pack. Defects on the A12, A13 and A406 must be reported to Transport for London.
Report a pothole — lbbd.gov.ukHit a Pothole in Barking and Dagenham?
AMBER condition with GREEN spend demands a precise claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • No bi-annual U-road survey-gap argument
- • No prior-report search
- • No DfT incomplete-treatment-data citation
Professional claim pack
- ✅ 48.6% A-road RED condition documented
- ✅ London 29% average comparison cited
- ✅ 2,500 pothole peak and sustained elevation referenced
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to Barking and Dagenham
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently asked questions
Does Barking and Dagenham's AMBER DfT rating mean the council will pay my claim?
Not automatically. AMBER means the borough performs below the best authorities on combined condition, spend and best-practice scorecards — but Section 58 turns on whether the specific defect that damaged your vehicle was reasonably inspected and repaired. The council's June 2025 transparency report shows 48.6% of A-roads in RED condition at the 2024/25 survey, 76.9% of unclassified roads in amber or red, and projects ~2,000 pothole repairs in 2025/26. Those figures can support a claim when tied to your specific road and defect — they do not guarantee success on their own.
Barking and Dagenham has a GREEN spend rating — can I still claim?
Yes. The DfT Spend scorecard is GREEN because projected 2025/26 capital spend is £5.877m against a DfT capital allocation of £556,000. Section 58 is about the individual defect, not aggregate budgets. Overall, condition and best-practice ratings are all AMBER, and the DfT notes the overall and best-practice scorecards reflect incomplete carriageway treatment data.
Why is best practice AMBER when spend is GREEN?
The DfT scorecards are separate. Barking and Dagenham's transparency report describes a risk-based asset management approach aligned to the Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure code, but the DfT still rates best practice AMBER for 2025/26 — partly because carriageway treatment data submitted to the government was incomplete. That gap between documented processes and the government's assessment is worth citing if the council relies on generic "we have a system" arguments rather than records for your street.
How bad are Barking and Dagenham's A-roads compared to other London boroughs?
At the 2024/25 LoHEG survey, 48.6% of the borough's principal (A) roads were rated RED — major deterioration — against a London average of 29%. That is 19.6 percentage points worse, or roughly 68% higher than the capital average. The council itself states principal roads are in a higher state of disrepair than the London average, with around half of A roads in poor condition.
What if my pothole was on a residential or unclassified road?
Unclassified roads make up 276.7km — 83% of the borough's 334.8km carriageway network. The latest published survey shows 15.1% of U-roads in RED and 61.8% in amber (76.9% combined). B and C roads are surveyed bi-annually — half the network each year — so condition snapshots may not cover your street in the year of your incident. Prior reports via the council's online form and photos showing defect age matter more than borough-wide averages.
Why did pothole repairs surge from 1,446 to 2,500 in 2022/23?
The council filled 1,446 potholes in 2021/22 and 2,500 in 2022/23 — a 73% rise. Volumes remained elevated at 2,445 in 2023/24 and 2,039 in 2024/25, with ~2,000 projected for 2025/26. The council attributes this to underlying structural deterioration and expects similar volumes until planned resurfacing catches up. That pattern indicates ongoing reactive workload across the network — not proof your specific defect was unavoidable, but evidence that defects are forming faster than preventative treatment alone prevents them.
How do I report a pothole to Barking and Dagenham Council?
Report defects online at lbbd.gov.uk via the pothole and highway defect form. Defects on the A12, A13 and A406 (North Circular) must be reported to Transport for London, not the borough council. Prior reports of the same defect strengthen a claim by demonstrating notice before your incident. Fixtyer searches for existing reports and attaches them to your claim pack.
Data sources: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026 | London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (June 2025, V1.0). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.