Source
Department for Transport — Local road maintenance ratings 2025 to 2026
redOverall|amber Conditionamber Spendamber Best Practice
New authority caveat: Cumberland Council formed on 1 April 2023 from Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland. The transparency report shows no red/amber/green condition data for 2020–2023; the first full breakdown appears in 2024.
25% of Cumberland's 1,970km U-Roads in RED Condition
Cumberland Council — a unitary authority formed in April 2023 — maintains 3,627km of roads. Its first published condition survey in 2024 found 25% of U-roads in RED and 27% in Amber — 52% of the 1,970km unclassified network requiring attention. The DfT rates Cumberland RED overall with AMBER condition, spend and best-practice scorecards. Section 58 still turns on your specific defect.
1,025km
U-roads in RED or Amber
52% of Cumberland's unclassified network — residential streets, estate roads and local routes — at the 2024 survey. No comparable RAG history exists in the transparency report before that year.
3,627km of Roads — Mostly Unclassified
Network scale from Cumberland's June 2025 transparency report — where most pothole claims start
3,627km
Total carriageway
1,970km
Unclassified (U) roads
54.3% of the network
1,334km
B and C roads
36.8% of network
323km
A roads
8.9% of network
| Asset | Scale |
|---|---|
| Footways | 1,925km |
| Cycleways | 676km |
| Public rights of way | 1,668km |
| Bridges and culverts | 822 bridges, 630 culverts |
| Street lighting columns | 27,570 |
| Gullies | 72,482 |
The CNDR PFI exception
159km of Cumberland's network is maintained by Connect Roads under the CNDR PFI contract. That leaves 3,468km under direct council management. Claims on PFI-maintained sections may involve a different maintainer — verify the exact road before submitting.
"Cumberland Council is a new unitary authority that established in 2023. It covers the former districts of Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland."
— Cumberland Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (Incentive Fund Dashboard, June 2025)
What the 2024 Survey Actually Shows
First red/amber/green breakdown in the transparency report — after four years of zeros
Data caveat: Condition rows for 2020–2023 show 0% red/amber/green (U-roads show no data for 2020–2021). The council states it was formally established on 1 April 2023. Figures for 2025/26 spending in the transparency report are projected budgets. U-road condition is generated from Vaisala Road AI surveys, which the council notes are susceptible to lighting and environmental conditions.
| Year | A-roads | B/C roads | U-roads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0% / 0% / 0% | 0% / 0% / 0% | No data |
| 2021 | 0% / 0% / 0% | 0% / 0% / 0% | No data |
| 2022 | 0% / 0% / 0% | 0% / 0% / 0% | 0% / 0% / 0% |
| 2023 | 0% / 0% / 0% | 0% / 0% / 0% | 0% / 0% / 0% |
| 2024 | 2% / 21% / 77% | 7% / 33% / 60% | 25% / 27% / 48% |
Unclassified roads (1,970km) — where most claims start
25%
RED (Poor)
27%
Amber
48%
Green
Combined RED + Amber: 52% of U-roads — approximately 1,025km requiring maintenance attention on the roads most Cumberland residents use daily.
B and C roads (1,334km)
7%
RED
33%
Amber
60%
Green
Combined RED + Amber: 40% — approximately 533km. SCANNER and Vaisala surveys cover B and C roads annually per the transparency report.
A roads (323km)
2%
RED
21%
Amber
77%
Green
A-roads are the smallest carriageway class at 8.9% of the network. Some major routes may be maintained by National Highways rather than the council.
Network-wide picture at the 2024 survey
1,025km
U-roads (52% RED+Amber)
533km
B/C roads (40% RED+Amber)
74km
A-roads (23% RED+Amber)
Combined: 1,632km in RED or Amber — 45% of Cumberland's 3,627km network at the first published survey.
Following the Money
AMBER spend — projected 2025/26 capital spend is below the DfT allocation despite a £37.8m total highways budget
| Year | DfT capital (£000s) | Capital spend (£000s) | Revenue spend (£000s) | Preventative | Reactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (proj.) | 34,168 | 26,453 | 11,337 | 68% | 32% |
| 2024/25 | 16,783 | 19,064 | 8,170 | 65% | 35% |
| 2023/24 | 21,195 | 20,602 | 7,210 | 69% | 31% |
| 2022/23 | Not reported — pre-merger | ||||
| 2021/22 | Not reported — pre-merger | ||||
Why the preventative split looks strong
The council reports 68% preventative and 32% reactive spend projected for 2025/26, with similar splits in 2023/24 and 2024/25. The transparency report states preventative figures represent scheme spend to extend asset life, while reactive figures use revenue budget allocation.
Why spend is still AMBER
Projected 2025/26 capital spend of £26.453m is below the £34.168m DfT allocation — the pattern behind the AMBER spend scorecard. Aggregate budgets do not prove the individual pothole on your road was inspected and repaired within reasonable timeframes.
8,400 Potholes Filled — Two Years of Data
Estimated potholes filled — the only years published in the transparency report since the 2023 merger
| Year | Potholes filled |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 8,419 |
| 2024/25 | 8,271 |
Continuous reactive workload
More than 8,000 pothole fills per year across 3,627km works out to well over 20 repairs daily on average. That is consistent with a network where 45% of carriageway length was in RED or Amber at the 2024 survey — evidence of ongoing defect formation, not proof your specific road was maintained.
No trend line before 2023/24
The transparency report does not publish pothole fill counts for 2020/21–2022/23. You cannot compare year-on-year repair volumes across the merger from council data alone — only these two post-merger figures are available.
AI Surveys, SCANNER and Section 58
How Cumberland says it knows road condition — and where gaps appear for U-roads
Survey methods by road class
- • A roads: SCANNER annual survey (50% both directions or 100% one direction per year; full coverage in two years) plus annual Vaisala condition data
- • B/C roads: SCANNER annual surveys (B roads 100% one direction per year; C roads 50% one direction — four years for full C-road coverage) plus annual Vaisala data
- • U roads: Vaisala Road AI automated surveys feeding the Pavement Management System — frequency not specified in the transparency report
PAS 2161 from 2026/27
The transparency report notes a new BSI PAS 2161 methodology from 2026/27, with five condition categories instead of three. Cumberland assisted DfT accreditation trials on its network. Today's published RAG data reflects the current three-category system only.
For claims about defects now, ask what inspection and condition records exist under the current system for your specific road section.
"Vaisala Road AI is an automated road survey method collecting carriageway condition data that can imported into our PMS (Pavement Management System). The data captured is used to generate our U Roads performance figures."
— Cumberland Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (Incentive Fund Dashboard, June 2025)
"Although the RoadAI automated analysis and mapping is based on computer vision algorithms trained together with pavement distress specialists and trained road inspectors, as with traditional visually collected condition data, it appears that although this is a more repeatable process, it is still susceptible to both lighting and environmental conditions."
— Cumberland Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (Incentive Fund Dashboard, June 2025)
Section 41 vs Section 58
Under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, Cumberland 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 network-level condition tables.
- • Was your U-road included in a Vaisala Road AI survey — and when?
- • What manual verification followed the AI assessment on your street?
- • Were there prior reports (council portal, FixMyStreet) giving actual notice?
- • Does photographic evidence show defect age beyond the last survey snapshot?
- • For pre-2024 incidents, what predecessor-authority inspection records can the council produce?
Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland — What Transferred
Liability and assets merged in April 2023; published inspection history did not
Cumberland inherited
- ✓ 3,627km of highway carriageway and associated assets
- ✓ Maintenance responsibilities from 1 April 2023
- ✓ The duty to keep the network safe and accessible
- ✓ A 2024 baseline showing 25% RED U-roads and 45% network-wide RED/Amber
Not integrated in published data
- ✗ Predecessor condition trends (2020–2023 show zeros)
- ✗ Complete inspection records from Allerdale, Carlisle or Copeland
- ✗ Pothole fill history before 2023/24
- ✗ Spending rows for 2021/22 and 2022/23
"The council will maintain the highway network to the best possible standard within the available resources, while continuing to pursue all the opportunities we can to secure additional funding for the maintenance and improvement of our highways and transport infrastructure."
— Cumberland Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (Incentive Fund Dashboard, June 2025)
Claiming Against a RED-Rated New Authority
Honest assessment: Cumberland's inherited backlog is documented — but expect a structured defence on classified roads
What works in the council's favour
- ✓ DfT condition scorecard is AMBER, not the lowest band
- ✓ 68% preventative spend projected for 2025/26
- ✓ SCANNER plus Vaisala coverage on A and B/C roads
- ✓ A-roads at 77% green and B/C roads at 60% green in 2024
- ✓ Asset-management restructuring and PAS 2161 trial participation
Expect a prepared Section 58 defence on principal roads with SCANNER history. Generic neglect arguments alone may not suffice.
What works in yours
- ✗ RED overall DfT rating — one of 13 red-rated authorities nationally
- ✗ 1,970km of U-roads — 54% of network — with 25% RED at the 2024 survey
- ✗ AI U-road surveys acknowledged as susceptible to lighting and environmental conditions
- ✗ No published RAG condition history before 2024
- ✗ 8,419 and 8,271 annual pothole fills — continuous reactive workload
- ✗ Projected capital spend below DfT allocation (£26.453m vs £34.168m)
The winning strategy here is specificity
Against a new authority with a documented inherited backlog, your claim lives or dies on the specific defect and road class:
- • Prior reports of the same pothole — proof of actual notice beyond network surveys
- • Photos showing defect size, depth and age (weathered edges, previous patching)
- • Road class — on a U-road, AI survey limitations and the 25% RED figure are your strongest structural arguments
- • Incident date — pre-2024 claims can probe the data void and predecessor record gap
- • PFI status — confirm whether Connect Roads or the council maintains your section
Mac builds exactly this case: prior-report search, photo assessment, and citations from Cumberland's own transparency data where it helps you — without overstating what the published figures prove.
Report a Pothole to Cumberland 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. The council states potholes are generally actionable at 40mm depth or greater.
Report a problem with a street or road — cumberland.gov.ukHighways Hotline: 0300 373 3736 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm)
Hit a Pothole in Cumberland?
A new authority with a documented U-road crisis demands a precise claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY Claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • No 25% RED U-road evidence
- • No pre-2024 data-void argument
- • No AI survey limitation quotes
Professional Claim Pack
- ✅ 25% U-roads RED documented
- ✅ Four-year condition data void evidenced
- ✅ AI survey limitations quoted
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to Cumberland
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cumberland being a new authority help or hurt my claim?
It can help on evidence grounds. Cumberland Council formed on 1 April 2023 when Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland merged. The transparency report shows no red/amber/green condition breakdown before 2024, and the council states predecessor data has not been integrated. For incidents from 2023 onwards, demonstrating a long-established, documented inspection system under Section 58 is harder when the authority has limited published condition history and transitional records.
Cumberland's DfT condition scorecard is AMBER — does that mean I cannot claim?
No. AMBER condition means Cumberland performs in the middle band nationally on published network-level data — but Section 58 turns on whether the specific defect that damaged your vehicle was reasonably inspected and repaired. The 2024 survey shows 25% of U-roads in RED and 52% in RED or Amber combined. Those figures are council-published evidence about the network your pothole sits on, not a bar to claiming.
What if my pothole was on a U-road?
Unclassified roads make up 1,970km — 54.3% of Cumberland's 3,627km carriageway network. The 2024 survey recorded 25% RED and 27% Amber on U-roads. Cumberland generates U-road condition figures from Vaisala Road AI automated surveys, which the council's transparency report states are "susceptible to both lighting and environmental conditions." If your incident was on a residential or estate road, ask what inspection record exists for that specific street.
What if they say we inherited this problem from predecessor authorities?
Liability for highway maintenance transferred with local government reorganisation. Cumberland assumed responsibility from 1 April 2023. "We inherited it" does not by itself satisfy a Section 58 defence — the council must still show a reasonable system for the road and defect in question. The inherited backlog and missing predecessor records are factual context for your claim, not legal advice on outcome.
What if my claim is from before April 2023?
Claims for incidents before 1 April 2023 may involve the predecessor authorities (Allerdale, Carlisle or Copeland) rather than Cumberland Council, depending on location and timing. Cumberland's transparency report does not publish integrated inspection records from those councils. If your incident falls in the transition period, road classification, exact location and date determine which authority responds.
Cumberland fills more than 8,000 potholes a year — does that mean the roads are fixed?
Not necessarily for your street. The council reported 8,419 potholes filled in 2023/24 and 8,271 in 2024/25 — the only two years published. That volume shows continuous reactive workload across 3,627km, including 1,025km of U-roads in RED or Amber condition. Aggregate repair counts do not prove your specific defect was known, inspected and repaired within reasonable timeframes.
Is my road maintained by Cumberland or the CNDR PFI contract?
159km of Cumberland's network is maintained by Connect Roads under the CNDR PFI contract, leaving 3,468km under direct council management according to the transparency report. If your pothole was on a PFI-maintained route, the responsible maintainer may differ. Your claim pack should identify the correct highway authority for the exact road section.
Why does the four-year condition data gap matter?
The transparency report lists 0% red/amber/green for A, B/C and U roads from 2020 through 2023, then publishes full 2024 figures — notably 25% RED on U-roads. The council notes it is a new unitary authority established in 2023. For Section 58, a claimant can ask what documented condition and inspection history existed for their road before and immediately after the merger, and whether the 2024 AI survey captured their street.
How do I report a pothole to Cumberland Council?
Report defects via the council's "Report a problem with a street or road" service at cumberland.gov.uk, or call the Highways Hotline on 0300 373 3736 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm). The council states potholes are generally actionable at 40mm depth or greater. Prior reports of the same defect can demonstrate 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 | Cumberland Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (Incentive Fund Dashboard, June 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 AMBER; 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.