Source
Department for Transport — Local road maintenance ratings 2025 to 2026
amberOverall|amber Conditiongreen Spendamber Best Practice
DfT caveat: The Department for Transport flags that Stoke-on-Trent's 2025/26 condition ratings are based on incomplete road condition data.
864km of Stoke roads have no SCANNER survey data
Stoke-on-Trent City Council — a unitary authority, distinct from Staffordshire County Council — maintains 993km of roads. Just 128km carry published SCANNER condition scores. The other 864.63km of unclassified roads (87% of the network) are assessed by visual inspection only. The DfT rates the city AMBER overall on incomplete data, despite projected capital spend of £9.679m — more than double the £4.697m DfT allocation.
87%
Of the network without SCANNER data
864.63km of unclassified roads across the Potteries — surveyed by eye, not laser. No published red/amber/green percentages for the roads where most pothole damage occurs.
What the published condition data shows
Five years of SCANNER survey data from Stoke-on-Trent City Council's transparency report — covering only A, B and C roads (128km of 993km)
Stoke-on-Trent highway network (June 2025)
97.7km
A roads
9.8% of network
30.7km
B and C roads
3.1% of network
864.6km
U roads
87.1% of network
993km
Total roads
plus 1,127km footways
Some major routes (motorways and some A roads) are maintained by National Highways, not the city council. Private and unadopted streets may also fall outside council control.
A-roads (97.7km): improving on paper
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6% | 29% | 65% |
| 2021 | 7% | 36% | 57% |
| 2022 | 3% | 22% | 75% |
| 2023 | 3% | 21% | 76% |
| 2024 | 2% | 22% | 76% |
A-road RED condition has fallen from 6% to 2% over five years. A-roads are less than 10% of the network — and some are maintained by National Highways rather than the city council.
B and C roads (30.67km — 3.1% of network): improved, but tiny
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 9% | 50% | 41% |
| 2021 | 9% | 31% | 60% |
| 2022 | 6% | 24% | 70% |
| 2023 | 3% | 21% | 76% |
| 2024 | 3.5% | 25% | 71.5% |
B/C roads have improved — RED condition fell from 9% to 3.5%. But this entire road class is just 30.67km. In 2020, half of that small network was AMBER ("maintenance may be required soon"). The improvement covers a fraction of the city.
GREEN spend, AMBER condition
£4.697m
DfT capital allocation 2025/26
£9.679m
Projected capital spend 2025/26
36.0%
Estimated preventative share
Stoke-on-Trent projects spending more than double its DfT allocation — earning a GREEN spend scorecard. Yet the overall rating stays AMBER, and the DfT notes the condition data behind that rating is incomplete.
The 864km blind spot
87% of Stoke-on-Trent's network is unclassified roads — with no published SCANNER condition breakdown
Visual inspection, not laser survey
The council's transparency report states it uses SCANNER surveys annually for classified A, B and C roads. For unclassified roads, which "make up a large portion of our network," it conducts "regular visual inspections to assess their state."
No red, amber or green percentages are published for U-roads. The DfT's incomplete-data flag reflects this gap: the condition scorecard cannot fully represent roads that are never laser-surveyed.
PAS 2161 from 2026/27 — not yet
The council notes that from 2026/27 the government will introduce PAS 2161, a new national standard for road condition monitoring with a five-category classification. Stoke-on-Trent is "preparing for this change by investing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) inspections."
AI inspections are a future plan. Today, 864.63km of residential and estate roads rely on visual checks — with no published condition history for claimants to assess.
"Over recent years, we have focused on preventative maintenance to slow deterioration and extend the life of our roads. However, like many areas, increasing traffic, extreme weather, and funding pressures have impacted road condition."
— Stoke-on-Trent City Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (June 2025)
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 Stoke-on-Trent's unclassified network, ask:
- • Was your road ever SCANNER-surveyed — or only visually inspected?
- • What condition record exists for your street when 87% of the network has no published RAG data?
- • If the council admits weather and funding pressures have impacted condition, what was done on your road?
- • Can the council prove reasonable knowledge of a defect on a road type it does not laser-survey?
A council cannot claim detailed network knowledge when its own published data covers just 13% of road length — and the DfT agrees the picture is incomplete.
12,836 potholes filled in four years
Reactive repair volumes from the council's own transparency report — an average of 3,209 potholes per year
| Year | Potholes filled | Preventative spend | Reactive spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | Not separately reported | 24.87% | 12% |
| 2021/22 | 2,989 | 21.16% | 13% |
| 2022/23 | 3,236 | 26.24% | 16% |
| 2023/24 | 3,062 | 26.65% | 17% |
| 2024/25 | 3,549 | 34.62% | 21% |
| 2025/26 (projected) | 3,609 | 35.99% | 19% |
| Four-year total (2021/22–2024/25) | 12,836 | Council average: 3,209 potholes/year | |
13,000 defects planned for 2025/26
The council's 2025/26 plan estimates around 13,000 defect repairs across the network — a broader figure than pothole fills alone. Pothole repairs account for around 18% of the overall reactive maintenance budget, according to the council's own report.
Prevention rising, failures continuing
Estimated preventative maintenance share has risen from 21.16% (2021/22) to 35.99% (2025/26 projected). Yet pothole fills hit a four-year high of 3,549 in 2024/25. Higher preventative spending alongside rising reactive repairs suggests defects are still forming faster than the network is stabilised.
Highway maintenance spending (capital and revenue, £000s)
| Year | DfT allocation | Capital spend | Revenue spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | £5,695 | £12,155 | £1,492 |
| 2021/22 | £4,651 | £14,039 | £1,911 |
| 2022/23 | £4,651 | £13,847 | £2,193 |
| 2023/24 | £3,878 | £12,255 | £2,102 |
| 2024/25 | £3,350 | £9,072 | £1,960 |
| 2025/26 (projected) | £4,697 | £9,679 | £1,848 |
Innovation plans vs today's evidence gap
The council's transparency report describes ambitious technology — but published condition data lags behind
What the council is investing in
- • AI-powered condition surveys to reduce reliance on traditional surveys
- • Pothole Pro machine — repairs three times faster than traditional methods
- • Warm mix asphalt cutting carbon emissions by up to 15%
- • ~50 miles of carriageway rehabilitation planned for 2025/26
- • Multi-functional machine trialling gully cleansing, pothole repair and road marking in one pass
What claimants can actually cite today
Innovation programmes describe future capability. For a claim about a pothole that damaged your vehicle yesterday, what matters is inspection records, repair logs and condition data for your specific road — not plans for AI surveys from 2026/27 onwards.
The council manages 40,000 streetlights, 282 traffic signal sets and 242.8km of public rights of way — but publishes SCANNER condition scores for just 128km of classified roads.
"We aim to spend on average 30% of our budget on preventative treatments. However, we also have to react quickly to urgent issues such as potholes and damaged road surfaces. Our teams regularly inspect the network, and we prioritise repairs based on risk and safety concerns."
— Stoke-on-Trent City Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (June 2025)
Claiming against an AMBER-rated city council
Honest assessment: Stoke-on-Trent invests heavily — but its condition evidence has a structural gap
What works in the council's favour
- ✓ GREEN spend scorecard — projected capital spend more than doubles DfT allocation
- ✓ Classified A and B/C road condition has improved on published SCANNER data
- ✓ Preventative maintenance share rising — 36% projected for 2025/26
- ✓ Documented asset management approach and technology investment
Expect a structured Section 58 defence on classified A-roads where SCANNER data shows improvement.
What works in yours
- ✗ DfT flags condition ratings as based on incomplete road condition data
- ✗ 864.63km of U-roads (87%) with no published SCANNER condition breakdown
- ✗ Council admits weather and funding pressures have impacted road condition
- ✗ 12,836 pothole fills in four years — defects forming continuously
- ✗ 13,000 defect repairs planned for 2025/26 — reactive workload remains high
The winning strategy here is specificity
Against a council with GREEN spend but incomplete condition data, your claim lives or dies on the specific defect and road type:
- • 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 absence of SCANNER data is your strongest structural argument
- • Whether the council can produce inspection records for your street, not just network-wide averages
Mac builds exactly this case: he searches for prior reports, assesses your photo evidence, and cites Stoke-on-Trent's own transparency data — including the DfT's incomplete-data caveat — where it helps you.
Report a pothole to Stoke-on-Trent City 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.
Report a highways incident — stoke.gov.ukHit a pothole in Stoke-on-Trent?
Incomplete condition data demands a precise claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • No U-road data-gap argument
- • No prior-report search
- • No DfT incomplete-data citation
Professional claim pack
- ✅ 864km U-road evidence gap documented
- ✅ DfT incomplete-data caveat cited
- ✅ 12,836 pothole fills in four years referenced
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to Stoke-on-Trent
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stoke-on-Trent the same authority as Staffordshire County Council?
No. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is a unitary authority responsible for most roads within the city boundary. Staffordshire County Council maintains highways outside the city. If your pothole was inside Stoke-on-Trent, your claim goes to the city council — not Staffordshire.
The DfT says Stoke's condition rating is based on incomplete data — does that help my claim?
It can. The Department for Transport flags that Stoke-on-Trent's 2025/26 condition scorecard reflects incomplete road condition data. The council's own report publishes SCANNER survey results for just 128km of classified roads, while 864.63km of unclassified roads — 87% of the network — are assessed by visual inspection only, with no published red/amber/green percentages.
Stoke-on-Trent has a GREEN spend rating — can I still claim?
Yes. The DfT Spend scorecard is GREEN because projected 2025/26 capital spend (£9.679m) is more than double the DfT allocation (£4.697m). Section 58 turns on whether the specific defect that damaged your vehicle was reasonably inspected and repaired — not on aggregate spending. The overall and condition ratings are both AMBER.
What if my pothole was on a residential or unclassified road?
Unclassified roads make up 864.63km — 87% of Stoke-on-Trent's 993km network. The council conducts "regular visual inspections" on U-roads but publishes no SCANNER-style condition breakdown for them. If your pothole was on a U-road, the council's published condition evidence simply does not cover your street.
The council plans 13,000 defect repairs in 2025/26 — does that mean the roads are fixed?
No. The council estimates it will repair around 13,000 defects in 2025/26 while also projecting 3,609 pothole fills. That volume of reactive work indicates defects are forming continuously across the network — it is evidence of ongoing deterioration, not proof that your specific road was maintained to a reasonable standard.
Classified road condition has improved — does that weaken my claim?
Only if your pothole was on an A, B or C road. SCANNER data shows A-road RED condition fell from 6% to 2% between 2020 and 2024, and B/C roads improved similarly — but classified roads are just 128km of a 993km network. Most Stoke-on-Trent pothole damage happens on unclassified residential and estate roads where no comparable condition data is published.
How do I report a pothole to Stoke-on-Trent City Council?
Report highways incidents via the council's online form at stoke.gov.uk. Prior reports of the same defect strengthen a claim by demonstrating the council had 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 | Stoke-on-Trent City 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 GREEN; 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.