Source
Department for Transport — Local road maintenance ratings 2025 to 2026
amberOverall|green Conditionamber Spendgreen Best Practice
8,600 potholes planned — while the council admits its road data doesn't match what you see
North Somerset earns GREEN scorecards for road condition and best practice, yet the overall DfT rating is AMBER because 2025/26 capital spend matches — but does not exceed — its £7.15m allocation. Meanwhile the council's own report describes a disconnect between SCANNER survey data and what residents, councillors and repair teams see on local streets.
8,600
Potholes projected for 2025/26
Up from 6,622 in 2024/25 — a figure the council says reflects more reported defects and expanded reactive crews, not healthier roads across its 1,111km network.
What the condition data shows
Five years of SCANNER survey data from North Somerset's own transparency report — A-roads stable, B and C roads slipping
A-roads (113km — 10% of network): broadly stable
1.4%
RED (2024)
flat from 1.3% in 2020
16.8%
Amber
up from 13.8% in 2020
81.8%
Green
down from 84.9% in 2020
Main roads remain in relatively good shape on paper, but amber ratings have crept up and green share has fallen. A-roads are just one-tenth of the network.
B and C roads (348km — 31% of network): RED rising
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5.9% | 28.1% | 66.0% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | 27.4% | 66.9% |
| 2022 | 5.0% | 27.0% | 68.0% |
| 2023 | 5.5% | 28.0% | 66.5% |
| 2024 | 6.8% | 28.0% | 65.2% |
RED-condition B/C roads jumped from 5.0% in 2022 to 6.8% in 2024 — a 36% increase in two years. Good-condition B/C roads fell from 68.0% to 65.2%. Data is collected annually in one direction only.
Why spend is AMBER despite strong prevention
£7.15m
DfT capital allocation 2025/26
£7.15m
Projected capital spend 2025/26
86.7%
Estimated preventative share
North Somerset matches its DfT allocation pound for pound in 2025/26 — unlike 2024/25, when it spent £9.59m against £7.99m allocated. The flat projection contributes to the AMBER spend scorecard, even as the council maintains a prevention-first approach that reached over 91% preventative maintenance in 2023/24.
The 650km local-road picture
59% of the network is unclassified roads — surveyed on a two-year rolling cycle
| Year | U-roads in RED condition |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 4.7% |
| 2021 | 4.2% |
| 2022 | 3.7% |
| 2023 | 3.9% |
| 2024 | 4.1% |
The two-year survey cycle
North Somerset's report states U-road condition data is “collected every two years, with 50% collated in year 1 and 50% collated in year 2.” Smaller residential roads that standard survey vehicles cannot access receive an additional survey every four years.
The council notes U-roads in good condition rose from 74.1% to 77.6% between 2020 and 2024 on SCANNER data — yet it simultaneously reports more potholes and deterioration on local streets.
The lived-experience gap
From 2020 to 2024, U-roads in poor (RED) condition dropped slightly on paper — from 4.7% to 4.1%. But the council acknowledges residents, councillors and its own teams are seeing the opposite on the ground.
For a pothole claim on a residential street, the question is not the network average — it is whether the council knew about your specific defect and acted within a reasonable time.
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 North Somerset's unclassified network, ask:
- • When was your road last condition-surveyed — year one or year two of the rolling cycle?
- • If it is a smaller residential street, was it covered by the four-year supplementary survey?
- • Did the council receive prior reports of the defect via My Roads or FixMyStreet?
- • Can SCANNER data on a two-year cycle reasonably capture a pothole that formed between surveys?
A council that admits its survey data does not match what people see on local streets faces a harder argument that it could not reasonably have known about your defect.
26,429 potholes in five years
Reactive repair volumes from North Somerset's Smart Gangs — and the 2025/26 surge
| Year | Potholes filled (estimate) |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 4,512 |
| 2021/22 | 4,734 |
| 2022/23 | 5,124 |
| 2023/24 | 5,437 |
| 2024/25 | 6,622 |
| 2025/26 (projected) | ~8,600 |
| Five-year total (2020/21–2024/25) | 26,429 |
Smart Gangs and expanded crews
North Somerset's Smart Gangs are multi-skilled teams fixing potholes, kerbs, signs and drainage. In 2024/25 they repaired over 6,600 potholes, up from 5,437 the previous year. For 2025/26 the council is adding a dedicated reactive maintenance crew and a gully emptying team to respond faster to urgent defects.
First-time permanent repairs
The council states it adopts a policy of “delivering first-time permanent repairs wherever possible” rather than temporary patches requiring frequent revisits. That is positive for road users — but a permanent repair on a neighbouring pothole does not help your claim if the defect that damaged your vehicle was left untreated.
Reactive repairs rising, resurfacing falling
22 miles
Projected resurfacing 2025/26
Down from 28.8 miles in 2020/21
12.1 miles
Actually resurfaced 2023/24
The lowest figure in the five-year table
More pothole filling and less resurfacing suggests the council is managing deterioration reactively on a network where B/C RED ratings are climbing — exactly the pattern where defects form between scheduled inspections.
The council's own SCANNER admission
North Somerset publicly acknowledges its survey data does not match what road users experience
“While SCANNER data shows that overall road condition — particularly of unclassified (U) roads — is improving, this doesn't always reflect what road users are experiencing. However, residents, councillors, and our own teams are reporting more potholes, surface wear, and deterioration — especially on local streets. This disconnect between the data and people's lived experience is a growing concern.”
— North Somerset Council Local Highway Maintenance Transparency Report (June 2025)
“Their modern, high definition image-based approach marks a step-change from traditional SCANNER surveys, which often fail to reflect the deterioration residents and councillors report — especially on local roads.”
— North Somerset Council — Gaist partnership case study, transparency report (June 2025)
What this admission means
North Somerset has formally documented that its official condition records understate the deterioration people report on local streets. It is partnering with Gaist to move beyond SCANNER ahead of the national PAS 2161 rollout in 2026/27.
For your claim, that is evidence the council knows its existing survey regime has blind spots — particularly on the U-roads where most residential driving happens.
Questions worth asking
- • Was your road on a SCANNER survey cycle year, or in the gap?
- • Had councillors or residents reported deterioration on your street before your incident?
- • If SCANNER missed the defect, what did the council's routine safety inspections record?
- • Did the council act on reports via My Roads within its stated response times?
Five years of highways spending
Capital, revenue and the preventative-reactive split from the council's published figures
| Year | DfT capital (£m) | Capital spend (£m) | Revenue (£m) | Preventative | Reactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 7.18 | 8.43 | 2.03 | 91.5% | 8.5% |
| 2021/22 | 6.14 | 7.39 | 2.23 | 89.8% | 10.2% |
| 2022/23 | 4.85 | 7.35 | 2.33 | 89.4% | 10.6% |
| 2023/24 | 8.59 | 11.09 | 2.50 | 91.9% | 8.1% |
| 2024/25 | 7.99 | 9.59 | 2.70 | 90.3% | 9.7% |
| 2025/26 (projected) | 7.15 | 7.15 | 3.10 | 86.7% | 13.3% |
Revenue split shifting in 2025/26
Of the £3.1m revenue budget for 2025/26, 56% is planned for preventative work and 44% for reactive maintenance — a deliberate increase in reactive spending to fund the new maintenance crew and gully emptying team. Overall, 86.7% of highways maintenance investment remains preventative, but the reactive share is the highest in the five-year table.
GREEN best practice
North Somerset earns GREEN for best practice — ISO-aligned asset management, bi-annual Value for Money reviews through the Future Highways Research Group, and procurement delivering 10–15% savings. Expect a well-documented Section 58 defence; your evidence needs to be equally precise.
Claiming against a GREEN-condition, AMBER-rated council
Honest assessment: North Somerset is better run than many authorities — here is how that shapes your approach
What works in the council's favour
- ✓ GREEN condition scorecard — network-wide SCANNER averages remain strong
- ✓ GREEN best practice — documented asset management, VfM benchmarking, ISO alignment
- ✓ A-roads stable at 1.4% RED with annual SCANNER surveys
- ✓ 86.7% preventative maintenance projected for 2025/26
- ✓ First-time permanent repair policy — structured reactive response
Expect a well-documented Section 58 defence on A-roads with recent survey data. Generic claims will struggle.
What works in yours
- ✗ Council admits SCANNER data does not match lived experience on local streets
- ✗ B/C RED condition up 36% since 2022 (5.0% → 6.8%)
- ✗ 59% of network on two-year U-road survey cycle — plus four-year gap for smaller streets
- ✗ 26,429 potholes filled in five years — 8,600 projected for 2025/26 alone
- ✗ Resurfacing fell to 12.1 miles in 2023/24 while reactive repairs climb
- ✗ AMBER spend — 2025/26 capital matches allocation without topping up
The winning strategy here is specificity
Against a council with GREEN condition and best-practice scorecards, your claim lives or dies on the specific defect:
- • Prior reports of the same pothole (My Roads, FixMyStreet) — 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 two-year survey gap and SCANNER disconnect are your strongest arguments
- • Whether the defect was on a B/C road where RED ratings are climbing fastest
Mac builds exactly this case: he searches for prior reports, assesses your photo evidence, and cites North Somerset's own transparency data where it helps you.
Report the pothole to North Somerset first
North Somerset encourages all road users to report defects via its My Roads service. The council states that every report helps it prioritise work and target resources effectively. Reporting creates a dated record on the council's system — useful if the defect was known before your incident, or if the council failed to repair it within a reasonable time.
Report a pothole to North Somerset CouncilUse the online form with location, photos and contact details. Keep your reference number and any confirmation emails.
Hit a pothole in North Somerset?
A GREEN-rated council demands a precise claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • No SCANNER disconnect argument
- • No two-year U-road survey gap cited
- • No prior-report search
Professional claim pack
- ✅ B/C RED rise documented (5.0% → 6.8%)
- ✅ Council's SCANNER admission cited
- ✅ 26,429 repairs in five years referenced
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to North Somerset
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently asked questions
North Somerset has a GREEN condition scorecard — can I still claim?
Yes. The DfT GREEN condition rating reflects network-wide SCANNER averages, but North Somerset's own transparency report admits that data “doesn't always reflect what road users are experiencing.” Section 58 turns on whether the specific defect that damaged your vehicle was reasonably inspected and repaired — not on a headline scorecard. B and C roads in RED condition rose from 5.0% in 2022 to 6.8% in 2024, and the council filled 6,622 potholes in 2024/25 alone.
What if my pothole was on a residential or unclassified road?
U-roads make up 650km — 59% of North Somerset's 1,111km road network — and condition data is collected every two years, with 50% surveyed in year one and 50% in year two. Smaller residential roads inaccessible to standard surveys receive an additional survey every four years. At the last five comparable readings, 3.7–4.7% of U-roads were in RED condition.
Does the council's admission about SCANNER data help my claim?
Potentially, yes. North Somerset states that residents, councillors and its own teams are “reporting more potholes, surface wear, and deterioration — especially on local streets,” and describes a “disconnect between the data and people's lived experience.” It also notes SCANNER surveys “often fail to reflect the deterioration residents and councillors report — especially on local roads.” That is documented acknowledgement that official condition records may understate defects on the road where you were damaged.
Why is North Somerset's spend scorecard AMBER when it invests heavily in prevention?
The DfT Spend rating reflects how capital investment compares to the funding allocation. For 2025/26 North Somerset projects £7.15m of capital spend against a £7.15m DfT allocation — matching it exactly, not exceeding it as many GREEN-rated authorities do. Previous years saw higher spend (£9.59m in 2024/25 against £7.99m allocated), but the projected flat match for 2025/26 contributes to the AMBER spend flag.
North Somerset plans 8,600 pothole repairs in 2025/26 — does that mean the roads are fixed?
No. The council projects approximately 8,600 pothole repairs in 2025/26, up from 6,622 in 2024/25 and well above the 4,500–6,500 range of earlier years. It attributes the rise to more reported defects and expanded reactive crews — not to a sudden improvement in underlying road condition. A network producing defects at that rate is one where potholes routinely form between inspections.
Who do I claim against for pothole damage in North Somerset?
North Somerset Council. It is the unitary highway authority for the district's 1,111km of local roads, from the A370 and A38 linking Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon and Portishead down to residential unclassified streets. The M5 through North Somerset is managed by National Highways, not the council. Claims are made under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980.
Should I report the pothole to the council before claiming?
Yes. North Somerset encourages road users to report defects via its My Roads service at n-somerset.gov.uk/myroads. Reporting creates a dated record on the council's system. If the same defect was reported before your incident, or if the council failed to repair it within a reasonable time after notice, that strengthens your claim under Section 58.
Data sources: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026 | North Somerset Council Local Highway 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 GREEN; 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.