Source
Department for Transport — Local road maintenance ratings 2025 to 2026
amberOverall|amber Conditionamber Spendgreen Best Practice
Dorset: GREEN Best Practice, AMBER Roads
Dorset Council earns a GREEN best-practice scorecard for its asset management strategy and innovative treatments — yet the overall DfT rating is AMBER on condition and spend. B/C roads hit 13.31% RED in 2022, unclassified roads spiked to 25% RED the same year, and the council filled 43,115 carriageway potholes in five years across its 3,797km network.
10,492
Carriageway potholes filled in 2024/25
Up 39% from 2022/23's 7,643 — roughly 29 pothole repairs every single day across Dorset, even as the council targets 90% preventative spend in 2025/26.
What The Condition Data Shows
Five years of SCANNER survey data from Dorset's own transparency report — A-roads broadly stable, B/C roads volatile, and a 2022 spike the council attributes to survey technology
A-roads (368.1km — 9.7% of network): broadly stable
2.2%
RED (2024)
down from 3.11% in 2022
22.5%
Amber
up from 17% in 2023
75.3%
Green
down from 81% in 2023
A-roads are surveyed annually using SCANNER laser-based technology. Condition is acceptable but not improving — green roads fell from 81% to 75.3% between 2023 and 2024.
B and C roads (1,490.6km — 39% of network): the 2022 spike
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3.41% | 32.59% | 62% |
| 2021 | 5.6% | 29% | 65% |
| 2022 | 13.31% | B: 31.2% / C: 34.2% | B: 60.38% / C: 48.9% |
| 2023 | 6.58% | 26.56% | 66.86% |
| 2024 | 5.93% | 28% | 66% |
RED-condition B/C roads nearly quadrupled from the 2020 baseline (3.41% → 13.31%) before easing to 5.93%. Even after recovery, RED roads remain 74% above the 2020 level — and roughly a third of the B/C network is amber, meaning maintenance may be required soon.
AMBER Spend Despite Rising Investment
£25.0m
DfT capital allocation 2025/26
£29.8m
Projected capital spend 2025/26
90%
Planned preventative share 2025/26
Dorset plans to exceed its DfT allocation by nearly £5m in 2025/26 and class 90% of spend as preventative — yet the DfT Spend scorecard is still AMBER. In 2020/21 the council underspent its allocation by £4.3m, and reactive maintenance rose to 18% in 2022/23 and 2023/24 — the same years pothole fills surged past 10,000.
The 1,945km Unclassified Network
51% of Dorset's roads are unclassified — assessed periodically, not annually
| Year | U-roads in RED condition |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 12.81% |
| 2021 | 12.8% |
| 2022 | 25% |
| 2023 | 11.79% |
| 2024 | 12% |
"We assess our unclassified roads periodically to assess condition, supplemented by our annual inspection programme which ensures they meet appropriate safety standards."
— Dorset Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
Periodic, Not Annual
Classified A, B and C roads receive annual SCANNER surveys. Unclassified roads — over half the network — are assessed only "periodically." Dorset publishes RED percentages for U-roads but no amber or green breakdown, so the full condition picture for residential and village routes is incomplete.
At 12% RED in 2024, roughly 233km of U-roads should be considered for maintenance — estate streets, village lanes and rural access roads where most local pothole damage occurs.
The 2022 U-Road Spike
Unclassified roads in RED condition doubled from 12.8% in 2021 to 25% in 2022 — the same year B/C roads hit their peak. The figure dropped to 11.79% in 2023, but the council does not explain the methodology behind U-road surveys with the same footnote given for B/C roads.
A swing from 12.8% to 25% and back within two years raises questions about survey consistency — and about what the council actually knew about U-road condition when your defect formed.
Why This Matters For Section 58
To rely on the Section 58 defence, a council must show it had a reasonable system for knowing the condition of its roads. For Dorset's unclassified network, ask:
- • When was your road last condition-surveyed — and was it during or after the 2022 spike?
- • If 12% of U-roads are RED at the last survey, what was done about yours specifically?
- • How does "periodic" assessment satisfy Section 41's duty on a 1,945km sub-network?
- • Does the annual safety inspection programme cover the defect location, or only carriageway-wide condition?
A council cannot claim detailed network knowledge for roads it only assesses periodically — while publishing incomplete condition data for the majority of its network.
43,115 Carriageway Potholes in Five Years
The scale of reactive repair tells you how many defects this network produces — and when the surge began
| Year | Carriageway potholes | Footway potholes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 7,329 | 392 | 7,721 |
| 2021/22 | 7,026 | 348 | 7,374 |
| 2022/23 | 7,643 | 276 | 7,919 |
| 2023/24 | 10,625 | 229 | 10,854 |
| 2024/25 | 10,492 | 233 | 10,725 |
| Five-year total | 43,115 | 1,478 | 44,593 |
The 2023/24 Inflection Point
Carriageway pothole fills jumped 39% from 7,643 in 2022/23 to 10,625 in 2023/24 — and stayed above 10,000 in 2024/25. That surge coincided with reactive maintenance rising to 18% of total spend. A network producing over 10,000 potholes a year is one where defects routinely form between inspections.
Preventative vs Reactive
Dorset's own report states it aims to "increase the proportion of our budget spent on preventative maintenance." Planned preventative share rises to 90% in 2025/26 — but reactive maintenance still accounts for 13.5% in 2024/25 and produced over 10,000 pothole repairs. Preventative ambition does not eliminate reactive failure.
The 2022 Condition Spike — In The Council's Own Words
Dorset published the worst B/C condition figures in its five-year dataset — then attributed them to survey technology
"Data for B and C-class roads is collected annually. The 2022 figures reflect a more detailed breakdown due to the survey technology used (non-SCANNER)."
— Dorset Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
"We aim to increase the proportion of our budget spent on preventative maintenance to extend the lifespan of our assets and reduce long-term costs in a planned and cost-effective manner."
— Dorset Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
What The Footnote Means
Dorset switched to non-SCANNER survey technology for B/C roads in 2022, producing a more granular breakdown — and a RED figure of 13.31%, nearly quadruple the 2020 baseline. The council published the data and it remains on the public record regardless of methodology.
From 2026/2027, a new PAS 2161 standard will replace the current three-category system with five categories — another methodology change claimants should watch for when comparing year-on-year data.
Questions Worth Asking
- • Was your road surveyed in 2022 when condition peaked?
- • If 13.31% of B/C roads were RED, what maintenance was scheduled for your route?
- • Did the non-SCANNER survey identify your defect — and if so, why wasn't it repaired?
- • How will the 2026 PAS 2161 change affect comparability of future condition data?
Resurfacing Output vs Network Size
How much of Dorset's 3,797km network actually gets structural treatment each year
| Year | Resurfaced / treated (km) | Structures maintained |
|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 98.4 | 71 |
| 2021/22 | 255.14 | 62 |
| 2022/23 | 159.77 | 62 |
| 2023/24 | 229.90 | 42 |
| 2024/25 | 212.70 | 43 |
2025/26 Structural Maintenance Programme
~50km
Resurfacing and large structural patching (~£12m)
~120km
Thin surface treatments (~£6.1m)
~20km
Footway and cycleway treatment (~£750k)
31
Highway structures projects (~£4.4m)
Even with ~170km of combined carriageway treatment planned, that covers under 5% of the 3,797km network in a single year. The remaining 95% relies on inspection regimes and reactive pothole filling — the same reactive pipeline that processed 43,115 carriageway repairs in five years.
"increased investment in drainage climate change adaptation works and landslips, to reduce reactive costs and improve long-term network resilience"
— Dorset Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
Claiming Against a Best-Practice AMBER Council
Honest assessment: Dorset runs a documented asset management programme — here's how that changes your approach
What Works In The Council's Favour
- ✓ GREEN best practice — HAMP aligned with Dorset Council Plan, documented asset management strategy
- ✓ Exceeds DfT capital allocation in four of the last five years
- ✓ 82–90% of spend classed as preventative across the period
- ✓ A-road condition broadly stable with annual SCANNER surveys
- ✓ Innovative treatments — in-situ recycling, micro-asphalt, surface dressing
Expect a structured Section 58 defence citing asset management plans. Generic claims will struggle on A-roads.
What Works In Yours
- ✗ AMBER condition — B/C roads hit 13.31% RED in 2022, still 74% above 2020 baseline
- ✗ 51% of network is U-roads assessed only "periodically" with incomplete RAG data
- ✗ U-road RED spiked to 25% in 2022 — roughly 486km of residential routes
- ✗ 43,115 carriageway potholes filled in five years — defects outpace structural treatment
- ✗ AMBER spend — underspent DfT allocation by 21% in 2020/21, reactive share hit 18%
The Winning Strategy Here Is Specificity
Against a council with GREEN best-practice scorecards and a published HAMP, 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)
- • The road's class — on a U-road, the periodic assessment gap and incomplete RAG data are structural arguments
- • Timing relative to the 2022 condition spike and the 2023/24 pothole surge
Mac builds exactly this case: he searches for prior reports, assesses your photo evidence, and cites Dorset's own transparency data where it helps you.
Hit a Pothole in Dorset?
A documented council demands a documented claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY Claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • No U-road periodic-assessment argument
- • No prior-report search
- • No 2022 condition spike cited
Professional Claim Pack
- ✅ B/C 2022 RED spike documented
- ✅ Periodic U-road assessment gap argued
- ✅ 43,115 carriageway repairs in five years cited
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to Dorset
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dorset has GREEN best practice — does that block my pothole claim?
No. Best practice measures how the council manages its assets — ISO-aligned plans, documented strategy, innovative treatments. Section 58 turns on whether the specific defect that damaged your vehicle was reasonably inspected and repaired. Dorset is AMBER on condition, with B/C roads hitting 13.31% RED in 2022 and over 10,000 carriageway potholes filled in both 2023/24 and 2024/25.
What happened to Dorset road condition in 2022?
B and C roads in RED condition jumped from 5.6% in 2021 to 13.31% in 2022 — nearly quadruple the 2020 baseline of 3.41%. Unclassified roads in RED hit 25%, up from 12.8% the year before. Dorset's own report notes the 2022 B/C figures "reflect a more detailed breakdown due to the survey technology used (non-SCANNER)" — but the council still published the numbers and they remain on the public record.
What if my pothole was on a residential or unclassified road?
Unclassified roads make up 1,944.7km — 51% of Dorset's 3,797km network. The council assesses them "periodically" rather than with the annual SCANNER surveys used on classified roads. At the last survey, 12% of U-roads were in RED condition — roughly 233km of residential streets, estate roads and village routes. Only RED percentages are published for U-roads; there is no amber/green breakdown.
Dorset plans 90% preventative spend in 2025/26 — can I still claim?
Yes. Preventative spend is a portfolio metric, not a defence for a specific pothole. Dorset's reactive share rose to 18% in 2022/23 and 2023/24 — the same years carriageway pothole fills jumped from 7,643 to over 10,600. The DfT Spend scorecard is AMBER, and in 2020/21 the council spent £16.15m against a £20.48m DfT allocation — 21% below the funded level.
Pothole repairs jumped in 2023/24 — does that mean Dorset's roads are fixed?
No. Dorset filled 10,625 carriageway potholes in 2023/24 and 10,492 in 2024/25 — a 39% jump from 2022/23 and still running at roughly 29 repairs every day. A network producing defects at that rate is one where potholes routinely form between inspections. Prior reports and photographic evidence of the specific defect remain decisive.
Data sources: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026 | Dorset Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (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 AMBER; condition AMBER; spend AMBER; best practice GREEN.
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.