26,483 Pothole Repairs in 2023/24 — Up 48% Despite 93% Preventative Spend
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council earns AMBER DfT scorecards for overall performance and condition, with GREEN spend — yet its own transparency report records 26,483 pothole fills in 2023/24, a 48% surge from 17,898 the previous year. Sixty-seven per cent of the network is unclassified residential roads where RED condition hit 21.85% in 2022. Section 58 still turns on your specific defect.
Department for Transport Scorecards
Barnsley's 2025/26 ratings from the DfT local road maintenance programme
| Scorecard | Rating | What it reflects |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | amber | Mixed performance across condition, spend and best practice |
| Condition | amber | Network condition adequate in some areas, inadequate in others |
| Spend | green | Projected capital spend (£11.122m) nearly doubles DfT allocation (£5.999m) |
| Best Practice | amber | Maintenance approaches adequate in some areas, room for improvement elsewhere |
What AMBER overall means: Barnsley invests substantially — a £17.214m highways capital programme is planned for 2025/26 — but the DfT still rates condition and best practice AMBER. That combination is consistent with a council spending heavily while published condition data shows B/C roads deteriorating and pothole repair volumes spiking.
Source: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026
1,090km of Roads — Mostly Residential
Network scale from Barnsley's 2025 transparency report — a £2.1 billion asset under strain
| Asset | Scale |
|---|---|
| Footways and shared cycleways | 1,430km |
| Other public rights of way | 725km |
| Highway gullies | ~55,000 |
| Highway structures | 225 (bridges, culverts, footbridges, subways) |
| Street lights | 33,199 |
"The estimated replacement cost of the highway network is estimated to be £2.1 billion and represents the biggest financial asset that we're responsible for."
— Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
What AMBER Condition Actually Shows
SCANNER surveys on classified roads; coarse visual inspection on 100% of U-roads annually
Reporting caveat: Barnsley publishes full red/amber/green breakdowns for A and B/C roads via SCANNER surveys (100% coverage over a two-year cycle). For unclassified roads, only the percentage in RED condition is published — assessed via coarse visual inspection (CVI) on foot across all 727km each year. From 2026/27, PAS 2161 will introduce a five-category national standard; today's U-road data is RED-only.
A roads (145km) — SCANNER surveys, two-year cycle
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.29% | 14.79% | 82.92% |
| 2022 | 1.85% | 12.24% | 85.92% |
| 2024 | 2.96% | 14.91% | 82.13% |
A-road RED condition has risen from a low of 1.85% (2022) to 2.96% (2024). Principal routes remain predominantly green-rated but are only 13% of the carriageway network.
B and C roads (217km) — deteriorating steadily
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3.75% | 24.84% | 72.42% |
| 2022 | 3.63% | 23.87% | 72.49% |
| 2024 | 5.56% | 26.73% | 67.72% |
B/C green condition fell 4.7 percentage points from 72.42% (2020) to 67.72% (2024), while RED rose from 3.75% to 5.56% — deterioration despite consistent preventative capital spend of 93%+ annually.
Unclassified roads (727km) — RED condition only published
| Year | Red (% requiring maintenance) |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 13.36% |
| 2021 | 15.13% |
| 2022 | 21.85% |
| 2023 | 15.60% |
| 2024 | 10.78% |
More than one-fifth of residential roads needed maintenance in 2022 — roughly 159km of the U-road network. Targeted capital investment reduced RED to 10.78% by 2024, but that crisis developed on the roads where most pothole claims originate.
"Over this period, the targeted capital investment applied through sound asset management principles has seen the percentage of our unclassified road network requiring maintenance reduce from 21.85% in 2022 to 10.78% in 2024."
— Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
Following the Money
GREEN spend — but reactive pothole workload remains substantial
| Year | DfT capital (£000s) | Capital spend (£000s) | Revenue spend (£000s) | Preventative | Reactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (proj.) | 5,999 | 11,122 | 806 | 93% | 7% |
| 2024/25 | 4,592 | 11,263 | 781 | 94% | 6% |
| 2023/24 | 5,435 | 13,805 | 962 | 93% | 7% |
| 2022/23 | 4,000 | 11,058 | 892 | 93% | 7% |
| 2021/22 | 4,739 | 10,323 | 741 | 93% | 7% |
| 2020/21 | 8,696 | 11,165 | 604 | 95% | 5% |
Why spend is GREEN
Barnsley commits £3.3m of its own capital annually plus DfT grant, with an additional £2m per year since 2018/19 for backlog reduction. Projected 2025/26 capital spend of £11.122m against a £5.999m DfT allocation — within a £17.214m wider highways capital programme — exceeds what the DfT scorecard requires.
Why claims still happen
Despite 93%+ preventative share, the council still filled 20,000–26,000 potholes annually across the published series. Revenue budgets fund reactive pothole repairs — and the 2023/24 peak of 26,483 repairs coincided with the highest capital spend (£13.805m) in the same period. Aggregate investment does not prove every defect was caught within inspection intervals.
Five Years of Volatile Pothole Repairs
Estimated potholes filled — from Barnsley's transparency report, split by discovery method
| Year | Public reports | Statutory inspections | Total filled | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 3,878 (16.2%) | 20,068 (83.8%) | 23,946 | Baseline |
| 2021/22 | 5,308 (24.2%) | 16,688 (75.8%) | 21,996 | −8.1% |
| 2022/23 | 5,685 (31.8%) | 12,213 (68.2%) | 17,898 | −25.3% |
| 2023/24 | 8,438 (31.9%) | 18,045 (68.1%) | 26,483 | +48% |
| 2024/25 | 4,672 (22.9%) | 15,753 (77.1%) | 20,425 | −22.9% |
118% rise in public reports at peak
Public reports surged from 3,878 (2020/21) to 8,438 (2023/24) — drivers finding defects before statutory inspections could. That peak aligned with U-road RED condition at 21.85% (2022) and the record repair year.
Roughly 72 patches per day at peak
26,483 pothole fills in 2023/24 works out to approximately 72 repairs per day across 1,090km. A network producing that reactive volume — after declining to 17,898 the previous year — is one where individual defects routinely form between inspection and resurfacing cycles.
Inspections, Surveys and Section 58
How Barnsley says it knows the condition of its network — and where gaps appear
Survey frequency
- • A roads: SCANNER laser surveys — 100% coverage over a two-year cycle
- • B/C roads: SCANNER surveys — 100% coverage over a two-year cycle
- • U roads: coarse visual inspection (CVI) on foot — 100% of 727km annually
- • Structures: 225 highway structures including bridges and culverts
- • From 2026/27: PAS 2161 five-category standard replaces current RAG methodology
Reactive maintenance
Reactive maintenance from revenue budgets focuses primarily on pothole repairs. The council uses water-activated cold-lay asphalt for urgent repairs and operates a risk-based approach to defect response.
The principal roads and side streets investment programme launched in 2023/24, followed by the emerging priority patching scheme addressing post-winter deterioration — both responses to defects forming faster than planned works could prevent.
Section 41 vs Section 58
Under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, Barnsley must maintain public highways. To defend a claim under Section 58, it must show a reasonable system for inspecting and repairing the specific defect — not just publish a GREEN spend scorecard or cite £17m capital programmes.
- • Was your road on the annual CVI cycle for U-roads, or the two-year SCANNER cycle for classified roads?
- • Did the defect meet intervention criteria during statutory inspections?
- • Were there prior public reports (council portal, FixMyStreet) giving actual notice?
- • Does photographic evidence show defect age beyond the inspection interval?
"Reactive maintenance, sourced from revenue budgets, focuses primarily on pothole repairs, which are critical to preserving road safety and structural integrity."
— Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
Planned Work 2025/26
What Barnsley says it will deliver this financial year
"In 2025/26, Barnsley is delivering a £17.214 million capital programme, supported by council capital funding, government grant, and one-off investments."
— Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
Coverage maths
Even with 56 carriageway locations plus 32 principal-roads-and-side-streets sites, planned works touch a fraction of 1,090km. The remaining network relies on reactive patching, CVI/SCANNER survey cycles and statutory inspections — on a borough where U-road RED condition reached 21.85% within the last survey series and B/C green ratings fell 4.7 points in five years.
Claiming Against an AMBER-Rated Borough
Honest assessment: Barnsley invests heavily — but published data shows deterioration and reactive spikes
What works in the council's favour
- ✓ GREEN spend scorecard — capital spend nearly doubles DfT allocation
- ✓ 93–95% preventative capital share sustained over six years
- ✓ U-road RED condition recovered from 21.85% (2022) to 10.78% (2024)
- ✓ £17.214m highways capital programme and documented asset management strategy
- ✓ 100% annual CVI coverage of U-roads — not a blind spot like visual-only authorities
Expect a well-resourced Section 58 defence citing spend volumes and U-road recovery data.
What works in yours
- ✗ AMBER overall, condition and best-practice scorecards from DfT
- ✗ 48% pothole surge to 26,483 in 2023/24 despite peak capital spend
- ✗ B/C green condition fell from 72.42% to 67.72% (2020–2024)
- ✗ U-roads reached 21.85% RED before emergency intervention
- ✗ Public reports more than doubled at peak (3,878 → 8,438)
- ✗ U-road condition published as RED-only — limited transparency on amber/green residential network
The winning strategy here is specificity
Against a borough with GREEN spend and a £17m capital programme, your claim lives or dies on the specific defect:
- • Prior reports of the same pothole — proof of actual notice beyond inspection cycles
- • Photos showing defect size, depth and visible age (weathered edges, previous patching)
- • Road class — U-road crisis data (21.85% RED in 2022) or B/C deterioration trends as context
- • Timing relative to the 2023/24 post-winter patching surge and record repair year
Mac builds exactly this case: prior-report search, photo assessment, and citations from Barnsley's own transparency data where it helps you — without overstating what the council's recovery programmes prove about your specific road.
Report a Pothole to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough 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.
Report a pothole — barnsley.gov.ukImmediate danger: call the 24-hour emergency helpline on 01226 773555
Hit a Pothole in Barnsley?
Heavy investment demands a precise claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • No 48% pothole surge cited
- • No prior-report search
- • No B/C deterioration or U-road crisis data
Professional claim pack
- ✅ 26,483 pothole repairs in 2023/24 documented
- ✅ B/C road deterioration from council SCANNER data
- ✅ U-road 21.85% RED crisis context included
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to Barnsley
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Barnsley's AMBER DfT rating mean I cannot claim?
No. AMBER means Barnsley performs adequately in some areas and inadequately in others across condition, spend and best practice — but Section 58 turns on whether the specific defect that damaged your vehicle was reasonably inspected and repaired. The council still filled 26,483 potholes in 2023/24, B/C road green condition fell from 72.42% to 67.72% between 2020 and 2024, and unclassified roads reached 21.85% RED condition in 2022 before emergency intervention.
Why did Barnsley potholes surge 48% despite 93% preventative spending?
The council's transparency report shows capital spend of £11m–£14m annually with 93–95% directed to preventative treatments, yet estimated pothole fills jumped from 17,898 (2022/23) to 26,483 (2023/24) — a 48% rise and the highest figure in the published five-year series. That pattern suggests defects still formed faster than preventative resurfacing could stabilise the network, particularly after post-winter deterioration programmes like the emerging priority patching scheme launched in 2023/24.
What if my pothole was on a residential or unclassified road?
Unclassified roads make up 727km — 67% of Barnsley's 1,090km carriageway network. The council publishes RED-condition percentages for U-roads only (not full red/amber/green breakdowns), assessed via coarse visual inspection of 100% of the network each year. U-road RED condition peaked at 21.85% in 2022 before falling to 10.78% by 2024 after targeted capital investment — but that crisis level developed on the roads where most pothole damage occurs.
Barnsley has a GREEN spend rating — can I still claim?
Yes. The DfT Spend scorecard is GREEN because projected 2025/26 capital spend (£11.122m) nearly doubles the DfT allocation (£5.999m). Section 58 turns on whether the specific defect was reasonably inspected and repaired — not on aggregate budgets. The overall and condition ratings are both AMBER, and high spend alongside a 48% pothole surge in 2023/24 shows investment volume alone does not prevent reactive failure on individual roads.
Are Barnsley's B and C roads improving or deteriorating?
Deteriorating on published SCANNER data. B/C road green condition fell from 72.42% (2020) to 67.72% (2024), while RED condition rose from 3.75% to 5.56%. The council's 217km of B/C roads are surveyed via SCANNER over a two-year cycle — if your pothole was on a classified link road, this five-year decline is directly citable from the transparency report.
Public pothole reports more than doubled — what does that mean for Section 58?
Public reports rose from 3,878 (16.2% of repairs, 2020/21) to 8,438 (31.9%, 2023/24) before falling to 4,672 (22.9%, 2024/25). That peak coincided with the U-road RED crisis and the record pothole repair year. If you reported the defect before your incident — or Fixtyer finds prior reports — that is evidence of actual notice beyond statutory inspection cycles.
How do I report a pothole to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council?
Report potholes online at barnsley.gov.uk via the council's report-a-pothole service, or call the 24-hour emergency helpline on 01226 773555 if the defect poses immediate danger. Prior reports strengthen a claim by demonstrating the council had notice. Fixtyer searches for existing reports and attaches them to your claim pack.
Data sources: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026 | Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.