Source
Department for Transport — Local road maintenance ratings 2025 to 2026
redOverall|amber Conditionred Spendamber Best Practice
34% of Bolton's Residential Roads in RED Condition — 10,263 Potholes Filled in 2024/25
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council is one of 13 red-rated authorities in England for 2025/26. Its own transparency report records 34% of unclassified roads in RED condition in 2024/25 — up from 21% the year before — while A and B/C roads sit at 1.7% and 2.7% RED under annual SCANNER surveys. The council filled 10,263 potholes in 2024/25 across 822km of U-roads that make up 80% of the network. Section 58 still turns on your specific defect.
34%
U-roads in RED condition (2024/25)
Bolton's own visual surveys — not SCANNER — show a third of residential and estate roads exceeded the point where structural repair should be considered. Classified roads: under 3% RED.
Department for Transport scorecard: RED overall
Four separate ratings from the 2025/26 Local Road Maintenance Ratings — not a single headline figure
red
Overall
amber
Condition
red
Spend
amber
Best Practice
What RED overall means
Bolton is one of 13 local highway authorities in England rated RED for 2025/26 — alongside authorities such as Bedford, Derbyshire, Greenwich and Suffolk. The Department for Transport states that red-rated authorities will receive a dedicated peer-review support programme.
RED does not automatically mean your claim succeeds. It is official confirmation that network-level maintenance performance — across condition, spend and best practice — fell below the DfT threshold. Your claim still depends on evidence about the specific defect.
Source: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026
1,017km of roads — 822km unclassified
Network composition from Bolton Council's 2025 transparency report — where most pothole claims start
1,017km
Total carriageway
822km
Unclassified (U) roads
80% of the network
107km
A roads
Annual SCANNER surveys
88km
B and C roads
Annual SCANNER surveys
| Asset | Scale |
|---|---|
| Footways | 1,407km |
| Other public rights of way | 367km |
| Cycleways | 29km |
| Highway structures, streetlights, gullies | 360 structures; 36,209 streetlights; 65,500 gullies |
"Bolton developed rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries with the development of many industries. Much of the highway infrastructure dates from this period when the first large-scale commercial and residential development took place. As a result, a large portion of the road network has not been constructed to modern standards and therefore is prone to deterioration."
— Bolton Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
Two survey systems, two very different pictures
SCANNER laser surveys on classified roads; annual visual surveys on U-roads — with only RED percentages published
Methodology caveat: Bolton's transparency report publishes full red/amber/green breakdowns for A and B/C roads from SCANNER surveys. For unclassified roads, only the percentage in RED category is published — not amber or green splits. U-roads are surveyed annually using visual inspection by qualified technicians who record major and minor defects. Safety inspections with walked inspections also run on a hierarchy basis — in some cases monthly.
A roads (107km) — annual SCANNER surveys
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.6% | 13.6% | 82.8% |
| 2024 | 1.7% | 12.5% | 85.8% |
Classified A-roads have remained around 2–4% RED for years, with direct central-government funding keeping strategic routes in relatively stable condition — currently 85.8% green-rated.
B and C roads (88km) — annual SCANNER surveys
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4.5% | 14.4% | 81.1% |
| 2024 | 2.7% | 15.3% | 82.0% |
Unclassified roads (822km) — annual visual surveys
| Year | Red (% published) | Amber / Green |
|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 29% | Not published |
| 2021/22 | 21% | Not published |
| 2022/23 | 32% | Not published |
| 2023/24 | 21% | Not published |
| 2024/25 | 34% | Not published |
At 34% RED, roughly 279km of Bolton's residential and estate network exceeded the council's own threshold for considering structural repair — more than ten times the RED rate on classified A-roads. RED condition jumped 13 percentage points year-on-year from 21% in 2023/24.
"Unclassified roads are surveyed annual utilising a visual survey undertaken by qualified technicians. They record major and minor defects which are then used to score the condition of sections of each road. This data is then used to formulate a programme of works for the following year."
— Bolton Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
10,263 pothole fills in 2024/25
Reactive repair volumes from the council's own transparency report — defects over 40mm deep on carriageways
| Year | Potholes filled | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 4,552 | — |
| 2021/22 | 10,699 | +135% |
| 2022/23 | 15,568 | Peak |
| 2023/24 | 11,964 | −23% |
| 2024/25 | 10,263 | −34% from peak |
| 2025/26 (projected) | ~11,500 | Council estimate |
"Bolton Council defines a pothole as being within a carriageway and over 40mm deep or over 25mm deep on a pedestrian crossing point. Any defects not meeting the above requirements may not be recorded as a pothole and may result in the repair of a defect being planned rather than an urgent repair."
— Bolton Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
Nearly 28 patches a day
10,263 pothole fills in 2024/25 works out to roughly 28 urgent repairs per day across 1,017km — while U-road RED condition rose to 34%. The published count captures only defects meeting the 40mm threshold; shallower defects may be scheduled as planned repairs instead.
RED spend scorecard despite 72.6% preventative share
Capital and revenue spending from Bolton's transparency report — carriageways only
| Year | DfT capital allocation | Capital spend | Revenue spend | Preventative | Reactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (proj.) | £4.794m | £5.055m | £1.664m | 74.2% | 25.8% |
| 2024/25 | £3.462m | £4.69m | £1.773m | 72.6% | 27.4% |
| 2023/24 | £5.211m | £5.089m | £1.834m | 73.5% | 26.5% |
| 2022/23 | £3.127m | £4.891m | £2.479m | 66.4% | 33.6% |
Preventative carriageway work delivered (miles)
| Year | Reconstruction | Resurfacing | Surface treatment | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 2.7 | 6.0 | 2.3 | 11.0 |
| 2024/25 | 3.2 | 5.0 | 5.6 | 13.8 |
| 2025/26 (planned) | ~5.8 miles resurfacing + 2.4 miles surface treatment | ~8.2 | ||
Coverage maths
Bolton manages 632 miles of carriageway. Even at 13.8 miles treated in 2024/25, that is roughly 2.2% of the network in a single year. The council targets a 70/30 preventative/reactive split and plans ~11,500 pothole fills for 2025/26 — yet U-road RED condition reached 34%. Volume of reactive patching does not prove every defect was caught within inspection intervals on the roads where most claims happen.
Inspections, surveys and Section 58
How Bolton says it knows the condition of its network — and where claim evidence can focus
Survey and inspection frequency
- • A roads: annual SCANNER condition surveys
- • B and C roads: annual SCANNER condition surveys
- • U roads: annual visual surveys by qualified technicians
- • Safety inspections: walked inspections on a hierarchy basis — monthly in some cases
- • Defect reports: public reports assessed by inspectors before reactive action
2025/26 planned works
- • ~5.8 miles of carriageway resurfacing planned
- • ~2.4 miles of surface treatments planned
- • ~11,500 pothole fills estimated
- • Structure repairs at Daisy Hill Station, Temple Road and Moss Bank
- • Part of Greater Manchester Road Activity Permit Scheme (GMRAPS)
Section 41 vs Section 58
Under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, Bolton 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 maintenance strategy or DfT scorecard.
- • Was your road on the annual U-road visual survey cycle — and had it been surveyed recently?
- • Did the defect meet the 40mm pothole threshold or fall into planned-repair category?
- • Were there prior reports (Highways Reporting Tool, FixMyStreet) giving actual notice?
- • Does photographic evidence show defect age beyond the last survey or safety inspection?
- • On a U-road at 34% network-wide RED, can the council show your section was adequately monitored?
"Our primary aim is to move to a planned maintenance regime rather than a largely reactive maintenance regime. By undertaking regular surveys of the highway, we can monitor the condition of assets, determine where the asset is in its lifecycle and make the most appropriate intervention at the right time to prolong its life."
— Bolton Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
What Bolton acknowledges
Verbatim admissions from the 2025 transparency report
On asset deterioration
"All assets will deteriorate over time, the rate at which highway surfaces deteriorate depend on their construction and age. They are particularly susceptible to damage from water, cold weather, overloaded vehicles and being dug up by utility companies."
— Bolton Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
On risk-based maintenance
"Adopting a risk-based approach to highway infrastructure maintenance is crucial. This involves prioritising maintenance activities based on the risk and impact of asset failure."
— Bolton Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
On reactive vs planned work
"Problems on the highway are identified by highway inspectors or from reports by the public. Each report is assessed by an inspector and if an urgent repair is required this is sent to the reactive maintenance team to action."
— Bolton Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
Claiming against a RED-rated borough
Honest assessment: Bolton's DfT ratings and published data — what works for each side
What works in the council's favour
- ✓ AMBER condition scorecard — not the weakest tier on network condition alone
- ✓ Classified A and B/C roads at 1.7% and 2.7% RED under SCANNER in 2024
- ✓ Documented annual surveys on all road classes — visual on U-roads, SCANNER on classified
- ✓ 72.6% preventative spend share in 2024/25 with a stated 70/30 target
- ✓ Published Highway Asset Management Policy and Strategy (2025)
Expect a structured Section 58 defence on A-roads where SCANNER data is strong and inspection records exist.
What works in yours
- ✗ RED overall and RED spend scorecards from the DfT for 2025/26
- ✗ 34% of U-roads in RED condition in 2024/25 — up from 21% year-on-year
- ✗ 822km of residential network on visual surveys — no published amber/green splits
- ✗ 10,263 pothole fills in 2024/25; ~11,500 projected for 2025/26
- ✗ Only ~8.2 miles of planned preventative work on 632 miles of roads
- ✗ Victorian-era road construction acknowledged as prone to faster deterioration
The winning strategy here is specificity
Against a borough with mixed scorecards and 34% U-road RED condition, your claim lives or dies on the specific defect and road type:
- • Prior reports of the same pothole (Highways Reporting Tool, FixMyStreet) — proof of actual notice
- • Photos showing defect size, depth and visible age (weathered edges, previous patching)
- • Road class — on a U-road, the 34% RED rate and visual-survey methodology are your strongest structural arguments
- • Whether the council can produce inspection records for your street, not just network-wide averages
Fixtyer builds exactly this case: prior-report search, photo assessment, and citations from Bolton's own transparency data — including the U-road deterioration trend — where it helps you.
Report a pothole to Bolton 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. Bolton only action potholes at least 40mm deep on carriageways (25mm on pavements or designated crossing points).
Report a pothole — bolton.gov.ukHit a pothole in Bolton?
A RED-rated borough with 34% U-road deterioration demands a precise claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • No U-road 34% RED deterioration cited
- • No prior-report search
- • No four-scorecard DfT breakdown
Professional claim pack
- ✅ 34% U-road RED condition documented
- ✅ RED overall and RED spend scorecards cited
- ✅ 10,263 pothole fills in 2024/25 referenced
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to Bolton
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently asked questions
Does Bolton's RED DfT rating guarantee my claim will succeed?
No. A RED overall rating is official evidence that the Department for Transport assessed Bolton's highways maintenance performance as among the weakest in England — one of 13 red-rated authorities in 2025/26. Section 58 still turns on whether the specific defect that damaged your vehicle was reasonably inspected and repaired. The rating strengthens context; your photos, prior reports and road classification do the rest.
Bolton surveys U-roads annually — does that weaken a residential-street claim?
Not necessarily. The council's transparency report confirms unclassified roads are surveyed annually using visual inspection by qualified technicians — not the SCANNER laser surveys used on A, B and C roads. Visual surveys produce a RED-category percentage only; amber and green splits are not published for U-roads. At 34% RED in 2024/25 — up from 21% the year before — the council's own data shows residential roads deteriorating far faster than classified routes at 1.7–2.7% RED.
What if my pothole was on an A or B road in Bolton?
A and B/C roads receive annual SCANNER surveys. In 2024, A-roads were 1.7% RED and B/C roads 2.7% RED — much lower than U-roads at 34% RED. The council still needs to prove it conducted the survey on schedule, identified your defect within response timeframes, and repaired it appropriately. A professional claim pack ensures you ask for inspection and repair records, not just network averages.
Why is Bolton RED on spend when 72.6% of maintenance was preventative in 2024/25?
The DfT Spend scorecard is separate from the council's own preventative/reactive split. Bolton earned RED on spend alongside AMBER on condition and best practice. Its transparency report shows £4.69m capital spend against a £3.462m DfT allocation in 2024/25, yet only 13.8 miles of preventative carriageway work across 632 miles of roads — roughly 2.2% of the network. Aggregate percentages do not prove the individual pothole was caught within inspection intervals.
Bolton defines potholes as 40mm deep — does a shallower defect block my claim?
The 40mm threshold (25mm on pedestrian crossing points) is Bolton's repair standard, not a liability threshold. The council states defects below that may be recorded as planned repairs rather than urgent pothole fills — which is why the published pothole count understates total surface defects. A shallower defect can still have caused your damage; photographic evidence of depth and prior reports matter more than whether Bolton counted it as a pothole.
10,263 pothole fills in 2024/25 — does falling from the 2022/23 peak mean roads are improving?
Not reliably. Fills fell from a peak of 15,568 in 2022/23 to 10,263 in 2024/25, but the council projects ~11,500 fills in 2025/26 and U-road RED condition rose to 34% in 2024/25. Lower fill counts can reflect reporting definitions, weather, or staffing — not proof your road was maintained to a reasonable standard. Reactive volume alongside rising U-road RED scores suggests ongoing deterioration on the network where most claims occur.
How do I report a pothole to Bolton Council?
Report highways defects via Bolton's online Highways Reporting Tool at highwaysreporting.bolton.gov.uk, or through the council's potholes and road problems page at bolton.gov.uk. Defects posing an immediate safety risk should be reported by phone: 01204 336600 (Mon–Fri 8am–4pm) or 01204 336900 outside those hours. Prior reports of the same defect strengthen a claim by demonstrating the council had notice before your incident.
Data sources: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026 | Bolton Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Reusable evidence record
Council rating evidence and provenance
Rating period: 2025-2026 · Reviewed 19 July 2026
Observed DfT fact
Overall RED; condition AMBER; spend RED; best practice AMBER.
Cautious interpretation
This is network-level context. The rating does not determine liability for a particular incident or establish what was known about a specific defect.
Correction status: No correction recorded.