Cambridgeshire: Record Spending, Peat Roads, Declining Network
Cambridgeshire is investing £73 million in 2025/26 — the largest highways spend in a decade — and earns a GREEN DfT spend scorecard. Yet the overall rating is AMBER because the council admits its network has deteriorated over five years, 40% of roads sit on peat soils that fail faster than conventional surfaces, and it filled 277,406 potholes in five years while 56% of 2024/25 maintenance was reactive.
What The Condition Data Shows
Five years of survey data from Cambridgeshire's own transparency report — stable under SCANNER, disrupted by a 2023 methodology switch to Gaist imagery
"Often for reasons outside our control, such as changing climate and rising demand, the overall condition of our road network has deteriorated over the last five years. This is why we are investing more of the council's reserve funds in highways maintenance and lobbying central government for further funding."
— Cambridgeshire County Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
A-roads (517km — 11.4% of network): SCANNER era vs Gaist era
| Year | Red | Amber | Green | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.54% | 17.48% | 79.99% | SCANNER |
| 2021 | 2.53% | 17.86% | 79.60% | SCANNER |
| 2022 | 3.18% | 21.19% | 75.63% | SCANNER |
| 2023* | 6.26% | 53.46% | 39.74% | Gaist |
| 2024* | 7.09% | 57.78% | 35.13% | Gaist |
Under comparable SCANNER data (2020–2022), A-road RED condition rose modestly from 2.54% to 3.18%. The 2023/24 jump reflects a survey methodology change, not necessarily overnight collapse — though the council's own deterioration admission stands independently of the chart.
B and C roads (1,706km — 37.8% of network): stable then disrupted
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 (Scanner) | 6.96% | 27.29% | 65.74% |
| 2021 (Scanner) | 6.79% | 26.86% | 66.35% |
| 2022 (Scanner) | 6.55% | 27.39% | 66.05% |
| 2023* (Gaist) | 14.29% | 67.04% | 18.46% |
| 2024* (Gaist) | 15.76% | 67.65% | 18.09% |
Under SCANNER, B/C RED roads held steady at 6.5–7%. After the Gaist switch, RED more than doubled to 15.76% and green-condition roads fell from 66% to 18%. The council attributes this to "a difference in the data collection method" — but 83% of B/C roads now sit in RED or AMBER under the current survey regime.
The Gaist Methodology Asterisk
"The reporting parameters are different, hence there are differences in the reported figures as outlined below. This is not indicative of a rapid deterioration of the network, rather a difference in the data collection method."
— Cambridgeshire County Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
Cambridgeshire switched from SCANNER machine data (2020–2022) to Gaist processed imagery (2023–2024) for A, B and C roads, and from Coarse Visual Inspection to Gaist for U-roads. From 2025, it uses SCANNER for the full network again ahead of PAS 2161. Cross-era percentage comparisons need caution — but the council's explicit five-year deterioration admission and 277,406 pothole repairs do not depend on any single survey year's percentages.
GREEN Spend — But Mostly Reactive in 2024/25
Cambridgeshire spends nearly double its DfT allocation — yet in 2024/25 only 22% of maintenance was preventative and 56% was reactive. The GREEN spend rating reflects investment volume, not whether that investment is keeping pace with a peat-affected network producing 55,000+ potholes a year.
The 40% Peat Problem
Cambridgeshire's unique geology — and why it matters for your claim
"Around 40% of Cambridgeshire's entire road network lies on peat-based soils. These soils naturally saturate and expand in wet weather and dry out and contract in dry weather. Climate change and unpredictable weather patterns can have a significant impact on these routes, resulting in excessive and accelerated deformation."
— Cambridgeshire County Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
| Road class | Network (km) | Soil affected (km) | % of class affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 480 | 147 | 31% |
| B | 578 | 251 | 44% |
| C | 1,121 | 358 | 32% |
| U | 2,244 | 906 | 54% |
| Total | 4,423 | 1,662 | 38% |
£5,000 More Per Kilometre
Soil-affected roads cost £30,000 per kilometre to maintain versus £25,000 for non-soil-affected locations. Surface treatments are "often ineffective" on peat routes — the council's words — meaning potholes recur faster and full reconstruction is more frequently required.
Fenland is 93% soil affected. East Cambridgeshire is 28%. Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire report 0% — but your claim's geography determines which maintenance regime applied to your road.
Funding Squeeze Admission
"As a result, a greater proportion of our funding goes on maintaining these routes, and this in turn impacts how much we can spend across the rest of our network. Especially as the interventions required are more costly due to surface treatments not being effective owing to the profile of the road."
— Cambridgeshire County Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
Why This Matters For Section 58
Cambridgeshire documents that peat roads deteriorate faster, cost more, and consume disproportionate budget. Some routes already carry warning signs or lane closures under a "risk-assessed approach." For your claim, ask:
- • Was your road on peat soil — and did the council apply enhanced inspection frequency?
- • If surface treatments don't work on peat, why was your pothole patched rather than reconstructed?
- • Did budget pressure on soil-affected routes mean your road was deprioritised?
- • Was there prior warning signage or traffic management on your route — proof of known risk?
Documented knowledge of accelerated deterioration on peat roads raises the standard for what a "reasonable" maintenance system looks like on affected routes.
The 2,296km Unclassified Network
51% of Cambridgeshire's roads — disproportionately peat-affected and survey-disrupted
| Year | U-roads in RED condition | Survey method |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 35% | CVI |
| 2021 | 36% | CVI |
| 2022 | 35% | CVI |
| 2023* | 20.88% | Gaist |
| 2024* | 22.36% | Gaist |
One in Three Under CVI
Under the comparable Coarse Visual Inspection surveys (2020–2022), 35–36% of unclassified roads were in RED condition every single year — roughly 800km of residential streets, village routes and rural lanes.
54% of U-roads are soil affected. The council collects 100% U-road coverage annually in one lane only — but methodology changes mean the 2023/24 Gaist figures cannot be directly compared to the CVI era.
The Prioritisation Admission
"This means we may have to prioritise roads that need preventative treatment over roads in a poorer condition also requiring attention."
— Cambridgeshire County Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
277,406 Potholes in Five Years
The scale of reactive repair tells you how many potholes this network produces
| Year | Potholes filled | Estimated cost | Reactive share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 61,532 | £2,721,235 | 30% |
| 2021/22 | 47,755 | £2,000,081 | 35% |
| 2022/23 | 50,671 | £2,619,686 | 43% |
| 2023/24 | 65,219 | £3,690,370 | 43% |
| 2024/25 | 52,229 | £4,556,273 | 56% |
| Five-year total | 277,406 | £15,587,645 | — |
~152 Potholes a Day, Every Day
Averaged over five years, Cambridgeshire fills around 152 potholes per day. The council estimates 55,000 repairs in 2025/26 alone. A network producing defects at this rate is one where potholes routinely form between inspections — exactly the scenario where prior reports and photographic evidence decide claims.
Reactive Dominance in 2024/25
Despite record capital investment, 2024/25 saw reactive maintenance rise to 56% of total spend — with preventative work falling to just 22%. Pothole repair costs also rose to £4.56 million in 2024/25, the highest in the five-year period, even with fewer individual fills than 2023/24.
Five-Year Spending Overview
| Year | DfT allocation | Total capital | Revenue | Preventative | Reactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (proj.) | £29.8m | £59.3m | £14.5m | 29% | 41% |
| 2024/25 | £21.0m | £49.4m | £8.2m | 22% | 56% |
| 2023/24 | £24.3m | £23.8m | £10.3m | 50% | 43% |
| 2022/23 | £18.6m | £26.1m | £10.9m | 44% | 43% |
| 2021/22 | £18.7m | £29.3m | £8.8m | 53% | 35% |
| 2020/21 | £24.8m | £25.2m | £11.4m | 48% | 30% |
The Council's Own Assessment
What Cambridgeshire says about its DfT ratings — and what it admits still needs fixing
"Improving the state of our network is a top priority. We are pleased to see our record investment in highways recognised with a green score, but after decades of underinvestment we know there is more to do. We're pushing hard to update our old processes and make sure we're delivering the best possible service we can and hope to see that progress reflected in the next scorecard."
— Cllr Alex Beckett, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee — Cambridgeshire County Council, January 2026
AMBER Best Practice
Cambridgeshire scores AMBER on best practice despite pioneering data-led capital prioritisation and an Active Travel Hierarchy. The council is reviewing its Highway Operational Standards and transitioning to PAS 2161 from 2026/27 — evidence of systems still in flux rather than fully mature.
In 2024/25 the council resurfaced 145km of road and applied preventative surface dressing to 92km — but simultaneously admitted overall condition has deteriorated over five years.
£530 Million Peat Gap
The council estimates soil-affected roads will require in excess of £530 million in additional funding — and is lobbying central government for a fairer model. In 2024/25 alone, 11km of peat-affected roads were reconstructed at a cost of £5.5 million.
That funding gap is an admission the current programme cannot keep pace with deterioration on peat routes — relevant when assessing whether your specific defect should have been caught sooner.
Claiming Against a Well-Funded AMBER Council
Honest assessment: Cambridgeshire invests heavily — here's how that changes your approach
What Works In The Council's Favour
- ✓ GREEN spend scorecard — £59.3m projected capital spend vs £29.8m DfT allocation
- ✓ Record £73m total investment in 2025/26 including £24m from council reserves
- ✓ 100% annual road condition survey coverage on A, B, C and U roads
- ✓ Data-led capital prioritisation and documented asset management approach
- ✓ 145km resurfaced in 2024/25 with 92km of preventative surface dressing
Expect a well-documented Section 58 defence on recently resurfaced A-roads. Generic claims will struggle.
What Works In Yours
- ✗ AMBER condition — council admits five-year network deterioration
- ✗ 40% peat-affected network with documented accelerated deformation
- ✗ 35–36% of U-roads in RED under comparable CVI surveys (2020–2022)
- ✗ 277,406 potholes filled in five years — defects form faster than repairs stick on peat
- ✗ 56% reactive maintenance in 2024/25 despite record capital investment
- ✗ Explicit admission of prioritising preventative work over roads already in poor condition
- ✗ £530m funding gap on soil-affected roads — maintenance programme cannot keep pace
The Winning Strategy Here Is Specificity
Against a council with GREEN spend and record investment, your claim lives or dies on the specific defect:
- • Prior reports of the same pothole (FixMyStreet, council reports) — proof of actual notice
- • Photos showing the defect's size, depth and visible age (weathered edges, previous patching)
- • Whether your road is peat-affected — Fenland (93%), East Cambridgeshire (28%), or elsewhere
- • Road class — on a U-road, the 35% CVI RED rate and 54% soil-affected share are structural arguments
- • Whether warning signs or lane closures were already in place — proof of known risk
Mac builds exactly this case: he searches for prior reports, assesses your photo evidence, and cites Cambridgeshire's own transparency data where it helps you.
Hit a Pothole in Cambridgeshire?
A well-funded council demands a well-built claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY Claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • No peat-soil deterioration argument
- • No prior-report search
- • No survey methodology analysis
Professional Claim Pack
- ✅ Five-year deterioration admission cited
- ✅ Peat-soil and Fenland arguments tailored
- ✅ 277,406 potholes in five years documented
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to Cambridgeshire
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridgeshire has GREEN spend — can I still claim for pothole damage?
Yes. The DfT Spend scorecard is GREEN because Cambridgeshire invests well beyond its DfT capital allocation — £59.3m projected capital spend in 2025/26 against £29.8m allocated. But the overall rating is AMBER because road condition is AMBER, and the council itself states the network has deteriorated over the last five years. Section 58 turns on whether the specific defect that damaged your vehicle was reasonably inspected and repaired, not on aggregate spend.
What if my pothole was on a peat or soil-affected road?
Around 40% of Cambridgeshire's road network lies on peat-based soils that deteriorate faster than conventional roads — 54% of unclassified roads and 93% of Fenland's network are soil affected. The council admits surface treatments are often ineffective on these routes and maintenance costs £30,000 per kilometre versus £25,000 elsewhere. That is documented knowledge of elevated deterioration risk, which matters for what a reasonable inspection regime looks like under Section 58.
Does the jump in RED B/C roads after 2023 mean my claim is stronger?
Be careful with the headline numbers. B/C roads in RED jumped from 6.55% (2022, SCANNER) to 14.29% (2023, Gaist imagery). Cambridgeshire's own report states this "is not indicative of a rapid deterioration of the network, rather a difference in the data collection method." The underlying decline admission and peat-soil pressures are stronger arguments than the methodology-disrupted percentages alone.
What if my pothole was on an unclassified road?
U-roads make up 2,296km — roughly 51% of Cambridgeshire's 4,519km road network. Under the older Coarse Visual Inspection (CVI) survey, 35-36% of U-roads were in RED condition every year from 2020 to 2022. After switching to Gaist processed imagery in 2023/24, RED U-roads were reported at 20.88% and 22.36% — figures the council warns are not directly comparable to the CVI years.
Cambridgeshire repaired 52,229 potholes in 2024/25 — does that mean the roads are fixed?
No. The council repaired an average of 55,400 potholes every year over five years — 277,406 in total — while simultaneously admitting overall network condition has deteriorated. In 2024/25, 56% of maintenance spend was reactive and only 22% was preventative. A network producing potholes at this rate is one where defects routinely form between inspections.
Does Cambridgeshire prioritise preventative work over roads in poor condition?
The council says so explicitly: "we may have to prioritise roads that need preventative treatment over roads in a poorer condition also requiring attention." That is an admission that some roads in poor condition may not receive timely maintenance — directly relevant if your pothole sat on a deteriorating route that was deprioritised for preventative work elsewhere.
Data sources: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026 | Cambridgeshire County Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025 (published 30 June 2025). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.