3,009 Pothole Repairs in 2024/25 While 65.8% of A-Roads Sit in Amber
Blackpool earns AMBER DfT scorecards for overall performance and road condition, with GREEN on spend and best practice. Its own transparency report records 3,009 pothole repairs in 2024/25, claims 91% preventative maintenance, yet good-condition A-roads fell from 42.1% to 30.2% since 2020/21. Eighty-three per cent of the network is residential. Section 58 still turns on your specific defect.
The DfT's Verdict
Four scorecards from the Department for Transport — December 2025 transparency data
| Scorecard | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | amber |
| Condition | amber |
| Spend | green |
| Wider Best Practice | green |
What the split means: GREEN spend and best practice show Blackpool is investing heavily and publishing credible innovation plans — thermal recycling, digital asset tools and permanent pothole repair techniques. But the AMBER condition scorecard reflects what surveys actually measure: two-thirds of classified roads in amber, good-condition share falling, and reactive pothole workload back at 2020/21 levels despite 91% preventative spend claimed in 2024/25.
Source: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026
542km of Roads — Mostly Residential
Network scale from Blackpool's December 2025 transparency report — where pothole claims actually happen
| Asset | Scale |
|---|---|
| Footways | 891km |
| Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway | 18.2km |
| Bridges, footbridges and structures | 43 structures |
| Streetlights | 15,640 columns |
| Resurfaced in 2024/25 | ~6km (1.1% of network) |
“We aim to keep all parts of our network safe and in good condition, using data and local knowledge to prioritise where maintenance is needed most.”
— Blackpool Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (December 2025)
What AMBER Condition Actually Shows
Annual video imagery surveys — A, B/C and U-roads all measured each year
Methodology caveat: Blackpool assesses road condition using detailed visual inspection video advanced imagery technology, categorising surfaces as green (no immediate work), amber (may need maintenance soon) or red (urgent maintenance). From 2026/27, all councils will move to PAS 2161 with five condition bands instead of three. Survey snapshots reflect condition at the time of measurement — not necessarily the state of your road on the day of your incident.
A roads (55km) — surveyed annually
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 5.3% | 52.5% | 42.1% |
| 2022/23 | 6.5% | 58.9% | 34.4% |
| 2024/25 | 3.9% | 65.8% | 30.2% |
Red A-road condition improved — but amber rose from 52.5% to 65.8% (+25% relative) while good-condition roads fell from 42.1% to 30.2% (−28% relative). The network is shifting from green into “needs maintenance soon” territory faster than it is being resurfaced.
B and C roads (36km) — same deterioration pattern
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 9.8% | 50.1% | 40.1% |
| 2022/23 | 9.3% | 51.7% | 38.8% |
| 2024/25 | 6.0% | 63.2% | 30.7% |
B and C roads mirror A-roads: amber share up from 50.1% to 63.2% (+26% relative), good condition down from 40.1% to 30.7%.
Unclassified roads (451km) — where most claims start
| Year | Red (urgent) |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 8.4% |
| 2022/23 | 9.9% |
| 2024/25 | 6.7% |
U-road red condition improved from a 2022/23 peak of 9.9% to 6.7% in 2024/25 — but at 451km of residential network, 6.7% red still represents approximately 30km of roads requiring urgent maintenance. Blackpool publishes red percentages only for U-roads, not full amber/green breakdowns.
The Prevention Paradox
High preventative percentages on paper — pothole workload and amber roads both rising
| Year | Potholes filled | Preventative | Reactive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 3,103 | 86% | 14% |
| 2021/22 | 1,837 | 94% | 6% |
| 2023/24 | 2,941 | 91% | 9% |
| 2024/25 | 3,009 | 91% | 9% |
| 2025/26 (projected) | ~3,000 | 97% | 3% |
The 2021/22 drop
Pothole repairs fell 40.8% to 1,837 while reactive spending was estimated at just 6%. That was a budget allocation choice — not evidence roads had improved. Amber A-road share was already climbing.
Back to baseline, worse condition
Repairs climbed back to 3,009 in 2024/25 — near the 2020/21 baseline — while 65.8% of A-roads are now amber versus 52.5% five years earlier. Reactive workload returned; underlying deterioration did not reverse.
“We determine the split between preventative and reactive works based on regular condition surveys and historical data. Our goal is to increase preventative maintenance where possible as this helps reduce future costs and disruption.”
— Blackpool Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (December 2025)
Following the Money
GREEN spend — but years of modest capital before the 2025/26 boost
| Year | DfT capital (£000s) | Capital spend (£000s) | Revenue spend (£000s) | km resurfaced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (proj.) | 6,000 | 6,000 | 600 | ~17 |
| 2024/25 | 1,892 | 1,892 | 510 | ~6 |
| 2022/23 | 1,668 | 1,668 | 461 | — |
| 2020/21 | 1,248 | 1,248 | 445 | — |
Why spend is GREEN
2025/26 capital rises to £6.0m — including £2.366m from the Highways Maintenance Allocation and £3.634m from the Local Transport Grant — with approximately 17km of resurfacing planned. That is a credible investment response after years at £1.2m–£1.9m annually.
Why claims still happen
Even at 17km resurfacing, Blackpool would treat roughly 3.1% of its 542km network in a single year. The remaining 97% relies on patching, inspections and the condition data showing two-thirds of classified roads already in amber. One funding boost does not erase years of managed deterioration.
Claiming Against an Amber-Rated Seaside Borough
Honest assessment: Blackpool invests in innovation — but condition data shows managed decline on classified roads
What Works In The Council's Favour
- ✓ GREEN spend and best-practice DfT scorecards
- ✓ Annual video surveys on A, B/C and U-roads
- ✓ £6.0m capital planned for 2025/26 — 217% rise
- ✓ Permanent pothole repair techniques and thermal recycling published
- ✓ U-road red condition improved from 9.9% peak to 6.7%
Expect a prepared Section 58 defence citing GREEN scorecards and annual survey coverage.
What Works In Yours
- ✗ AMBER overall and condition DfT ratings
- ✗ 65.8% of A-roads and 63.2% of B/C roads in amber condition
- ✗ Good-condition A-roads down 28% relative since 2020/21
- ✗ 3,009 pothole repairs in 2024/25 despite 91% preventative spend
- ✗ Only ~6km resurfaced in 2024/25 — 1.1% of the network
- ✗ 451km of U-roads — 83% of network — with red-only published data
Section 41 vs Section 58
Under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, Blackpool 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 GREEN spend scorecards and high preventative percentages.
- • Was your defect visible and reportable before your incident?
- • Did prior reports (FixMyStreet, council online form) give actual notice?
- • Does photographic evidence show defect age beyond the inspection interval?
- • On a U-road, can the council prove timely action when ~30km of residential network is in red condition?
Mac builds exactly this case: prior-report search, photo assessment, and citations from Blackpool's own transparency data where it helps you — without pretending the council fails on every measure.
Report a Pothole to Blackpool Council
Reporting a defect creates a record the council had notice. Blackpool asks you to report potholes of 40mm or greater on roads and 25mm or greater on footways. Do this before claiming — and tell us when you reported it so we can reference it in your pack.
Report a pothole — blackpool.gov.ukHit a Pothole in Blackpool?
An amber-rated network with a prevention paradox demands a precise claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY Claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • No 65.8% A-road amber data cited
- • No prior-report search
- • No prevention-paradox argument
Professional Claim Pack
- ✅ AMBER condition deterioration documented
- ✅ 3,009 pothole repairs in 2024/25 cited
- ✅ 91% preventative vs rising amber roads argued
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to Blackpool
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Blackpool's AMBER DfT rating strengthen my claim?
It can, but no rating guarantees success. The Department for Transport rates Blackpool AMBER overall and on condition, with GREEN on spend and best practice. That AMBER condition scorecard reflects network-level deterioration — including 65.8% of A-roads and 63.2% of B and C roads in amber condition at the 2024/25 survey. Section 58 still turns on whether the specific defect that damaged your vehicle was reasonably inspected and repaired.
Blackpool claims 91–97% preventative maintenance — isn't that good?
The percentages look strong on paper, but condition data tells a different story. Good-condition A-roads fell from 42.1% to 30.2% between 2020/21 and 2024/25, while amber A-roads rose from 52.5% to 65.8%. B and C roads show the same pattern. High preventative shares are not proof that individual defects were prevented on your road — especially when the council still expects to fill around 3,000 potholes in 2025/26.
Blackpool has GREEN spend and best-practice scorecards — can I still claim?
Yes. GREEN spend reflects projected 2025/26 capital spend of £6.0m against a DfT allocation of £6.0m — a 217% rise from 2024/25, including £2.366m from the Highways Maintenance Allocation and £3.634m from the Local Transport Grant. GREEN best practice reflects published innovation plans. Neither scorecard proves the individual pothole was known and repaired within inspection intervals on your street.
What if my pothole was on a residential unclassified road?
Unclassified roads make up 451km — 83% of Blackpool's 542km carriageway network. At the 2024/25 survey, 6.7% of U-roads were in red condition — roughly 30km of residential streets. The council surveys U-roads annually using detailed visual inspection video technology, but a network-level percentage does not prove your specific defect was caught in time. Prior reports and photographic evidence of defect age matter more.
Why did pothole repairs drop 41% in 2021/22 then climb back?
Blackpool filled 3,103 potholes in 2020/21, then 1,837 in 2021/22 — a 40.8% fall while reactive spending was estimated at just 6%. Repairs climbed back to 2,941 in 2023/24 and 3,009 in 2024/25. That pattern shows reactive workload is volatile — and that the network did not become 40% better overnight. A-road amber condition actually worsened over the same period.
Blackpool's 2025/26 budget has tripled — does that affect my claim?
Not for past incidents. If your damage occurred before the 2025/26 funding boost, your claim is judged against the maintenance standards and resources in effect when the pothole formed. The jump from £1.892m to £6.0m capital allocation implicitly acknowledges prior funding was insufficient to reverse accumulated deterioration — with 65.8% of A-roads already in amber condition.
How do I report a pothole to Blackpool Council?
Report potholes and footway defects via Blackpool's online form at blackpool.gov.uk. The council asks you to report defects of 40mm or greater on roads and 25mm or greater on footways. Prior reports of the same defect strengthen a claim by demonstrating the council had 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 | Blackpool Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (December 2025). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.