Warwickshire: Amber Across the Board
Warwickshire County Council scores AMBER on all four DfT scorecards — condition, spend and best practice included. Its own transparency report records 39,556 pothole repairs in five years, a spike to 11,614 in 2023/24, and 13% of its 2,195km unclassified network in RED condition while B and C roads in RED have risen 45% since 2020/21.
The Network Warwickshire Maintains
3,929km of carriageway across a county where unclassified roads dominate — from the council's own transparency report
The council also maintains 2,915km of footways, 115,000 gullies, 1,160 structures, 53,000 street lights and 142,000 trees. Motorways and trunk roads are National Highways' responsibility.
Why The Split Matters For Claims
More than half of Warwickshire's carriageway is unclassified — estate roads, village routes and residential streets. These roads were historically condition-surveyed using Coase Visual Inspection over two years, not the SCANNER laser surveys used on classified roads. If your pothole was on a U-road, the council's own network-level knowledge of its condition is weaker and slower to update.
Under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, Warwickshire must maintain its roads. Under Section 58, it can escape liability only if it took such care as was reasonable — and that turns on inspection and repair of the specific defect, not aggregate scorecard colours.
What The Condition Data Shows
Five years of SCANNER survey data on classified roads — A-roads flat, B/C roads slipping
A-roads (435km): RED share rising
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 3.5% | 28.2% | 68.3% |
| 2021/22 | 4.0% | 23.7% | 72.3% |
| 2022/23 | 4.4% | 24.8% | 70.8% |
| 2023/24 | 4.2% | 28.9% | 66.9% |
| 2024/25 | 4.5% | 28.6% | 66.9% |
A-road RED condition is up from 3.5% to 4.5% over five years. Green roads have fallen from 68.3% to 66.9%. SCANNER data is collected annually in one direction, alternated so both lanes are covered over two years.
B and C roads (1,299km): declining
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 2.9% | 23.0% | 74.1% |
| 2021/22 | 3.1% | 19.5% | 77.4% |
| 2022/23 | 3.7% | 20.6% | 75.7% |
| 2023/24 | 4.4% | 24.3% | 71.4% |
| 2024/25 | 4.2% | 24.3% | 71.5% |
RED-condition B/C roads are up 45% since 2020/21 (2.9% → 4.2%). Combined RED and Amber share is 28.5% in 2024/25 — roughly 370km of local classified roads needing maintenance now or soon. Green roads have fallen from 74.1% to 71.5%.
Warwickshire vs England and Wales (2024/25 combined RCI)
The council's asset management plan states classified-road condition "currently compares favourably" to other authorities. The DfT still rates Warwickshire AMBER on condition overall — national benchmarking and your specific claim are different questions.
The 2,195km Unclassified Question
56% of the network — but only RED percentages published, and the survey method is changing
| Year | U-roads in RED condition |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 17% |
| 2021/22 | 17% |
| 2022/23 | 11% |
| 2023/24 | 13% |
| 2024/25 | 13% |
"Data on unclassified road network has been historically collected using a Coase Visual Inspection (CVI). The data was collected over two years for the whole network. This duplicated some of the data collected on the classified road network by the SCANNER survey. For 2025/26, we are changing condition assessment method to be in line with the survey methodology for the classified network."
— Warwickshire County Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
"The survey will take three years to complete a full network assessment; however, the higher used roads will be completed in two years in line with the classified network."
— Warwickshire County Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
~285km of U-Roads in RED
At 13% RED on 2,195km, roughly 285km of Warwickshire's residential and village roads are in the worst published condition category. The council does not publish Amber or Green percentages for unclassified roads — only RED — so the full picture on the majority of its network is incomplete in the transparency report.
CVI data was collected over two years for the whole U-road network. That is slower and less granular than annual SCANNER surveys on classified roads.
The PAS 2161 Transition
From 2026/27 a new BSI PAS 2161 methodology will replace the three-category red/amber/green system, creating a break in the time series. The DfT plans to dual-run standards in 2025 and 2026 before full adoption in 2027.
If your claim involves a defect from 2025/26 onwards, ask which survey standard was in force and whether your road had been assessed under the old CVI method, the new aligned methodology, or not at all.
Why This Matters For Section 58
Safety inspections and condition surveys are not the same thing. Warwickshire's asset management plan is explicit: "Safety Inspections are not part of any formal condition assessment." To rely on Section 58, the council must show reasonable care — ask:
- • Was your road on a U-road where only RED percentages are published, not full condition data?
- • When was it last condition-surveyed under CVI — and has the methodology since changed?
- • If 13% of U-roads are RED network-wide, what was done about the specific defect on yours?
- • Does the three-year full-network assessment timeline mean your road may not yet have been surveyed?
A council cannot claim detailed network knowledge on roads it surveys on a multi-year cycle with incomplete published data — then change how it measures mid-stream.
39,556 Potholes in Five Years
Find-and-fix gangs plus reactive repairs from safety inspections and public reports
| Year | Potholes filled |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 7,285 |
| 2021/22 | 4,650 |
| 2022/23 | 5,908 |
| 2023/24 | 11,614 |
| 2024/25 | 10,099 |
| Five-year total | 39,556 |
The 2023/24 Spike
Pothole fills more than doubled from 5,908 in 2022/23 to 11,614 in 2023/24 — roughly 32 repairs every day for a year. The council expects to permanently repair over 12,000 potholes in the current financial year. That volume tells you defects are forming continuously, not occasionally.
The Asset Management Framing
Warwickshire's own asset management plan states that from an asset management perspective, it would be "hard to justify the prioritisation of pothole repair at the expense of other preventative or structural maintenance works" unless potholes indicate a need for larger intervention. That is the council's own hierarchy — pothole repair is reactive, and they know it.
"From an asset management perspective, it would be hard to justify the prioritisation of pothole repair at the expense of other preventative or structural maintenance works unless their presence is proved to be indicative of a need for larger maintenance intervention works."
— Warwickshire County Council Highway Asset Management Plan (Interim), October 2025
Spending Above Allocation, Still AMBER
Warwickshire tops up DfT grants with council funds — but the DfT says it is still not enough
| Year | DfT allocation | Capital spend | Revenue spend | Preventative | Reactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | £21.791m | £25.208m | £16.138m | 74% | 26% |
| 2024/25 | £18.227m | £22.174m | £20.636m | 76% | 24% |
| 2025/26 (proj.) | £25.465m | £29.936m | £21.256m | 77% | 23% |
Preventative Treatments
Surface dressing — sealing roads against water ingress — has risen from 67km in 2020/21 to 82km in 2024/25. Resurfacing has fallen from 42km to 27km over the same period. The council plans 123.53km of surface dressing and 9.81km of carriageway resurfacing in 2025/26.
The Funding Gap Admission
The council's asset management plan states that "available funding to undertake the required amount of maintenance is unlikely to match the need" and that "reducing treatments that contribute towards improving the network will inevitably result in worsening of annual performance." It also notes that when budgets do not keep pace with inflation and climate pressures, "the acceptable standard is reduced in line with the finances available" — while statutory duties under the Highways Act do not change.
"As such, it becomes increasingly difficult to improve the carriageway asset or maintain it in a steady state. That is not to say that the network becomes unsafe. It is that there must be agreement that either desired standards must be funded through increased budgets, or the acceptable standard is reduced in line with the finances available. The Authority's statutory duties do not change however, and a diminution of acceptable standard does should not mean a compromise in safety for the end user."
— Warwickshire County Council Highway Asset Management Plan (Interim), October 2025
Inspections, Claims Registers and Find-and-Fix
How Warwickshire says it finds defects — and what it admits about pothole priority
Safety Inspections
Safety inspections are undertaken by the term maintenance contractor to meet statutory duties under the Highways Act. Defects including potholes are recorded with priority responses. These inspections are explicitly not part of any formal condition assessment.
The council also holds a register of third-party claims and uses it to flag hotspots where higher incidences of claims are being made — documented knowledge that certain areas produce more defects.
Find and Fix
Proactive find-and-fix gangs address small defects before they escalate. The council states this approach is "extremely effective in tackling smaller road defects before they escalate into larger, more expensive issues with greater disruption to the road network."
For 2025/26 the council expects over 12,000 permanent pothole repairs plus approximately 300 localised carriageway patching repairs and 200 footway patches.
"Our commitment to long-term preventative maintenance over short-term reactive repairs helps extend the lifespan of our highway infrastructure and reduce overall maintenance costs and network disruption. Our proactive 'Find and Fix' pothole repair teams address small defects before they escalate into larger potholes and we invest heavily in surface dressing programmes to seal road surfaces, extend their lifespan and prevent costly repairs."
— Warwickshire County Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025
Claiming Against a Middling AMBER Council
Honest assessment: Warwickshire is not Derbyshire, but it is not Buckinghamshire either
What Works In The Council's Favour
- ✓ Combined classified-road RCI better than England and Wales average (4.34% RED vs 11%)
- ✓ Capital spend consistently above DfT allocation — topped up with council revenue
- ✓ 77% preventative spend projected for 2025/26 with active find-and-fix gangs
- ✓ Ranked 2nd in NHT peer benchmarking survey; ISO accreditation pursuit documented
- ✓ U-road RED share fell from 17% to 13% over five years (though methodology is changing)
Expect a structured Section 58 defence with asset management documentation. Generic claims will struggle on A-roads.
What Works In Yours
- ✗ AMBER on all four scorecards — DfT verdict is middling across the board
- ✗ B/C RED roads up 45% since 2020/21 despite preventative spend claims
- ✗ 13% of U-roads in RED (~285km) with incomplete RAG data on 56% of the network
- ✗ 39,556 pothole repairs in five years — defects form faster than structural treatment
- ✗ Council admits funding gap and reduced acceptable standards when budgets fall short
- ✗ Survey methodology changing — three-year U-road assessment cycle creates knowledge gaps
The Winning Strategy Here Is Specificity
Against a council that benchmarks well nationally and documents its asset management, your claim lives or dies on the specific defect:
- • Prior reports of the same pothole (FixMyStreet, warwickshire.gov.uk/potholes) — 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 CVI survey cycle and incomplete RAG data are your strongest structural arguments
- • Whether the location appears on the council's third-party claims hotspot register
Mac builds exactly this case: he searches for prior reports, assesses your photo evidence, and cites Warwickshire's own transparency data where it helps you.
Hit a Pothole in Warwickshire?
Four AMBER scorecards still leave room for a well-built claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY Claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • No U-road CVI survey-gap argument
- • No prior-report search
- • No four-scorecard AMBER context
Professional Claim Pack
- ✅ B/C road decline documented
- ✅ U-road survey gap and 13% RED argued
- ✅ 39,556 repairs in five years cited
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to Warwickshire
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Warwickshire is AMBER on all four DfT scorecards — can I still claim?
Yes. An AMBER overall rating confirms the Department for Transport considers Warwickshire middling on condition, spend and best practice — not failing, but not good enough either. Section 58 turns on whether the specific defect that damaged your vehicle was reasonably inspected and repaired, not on the headline colour. Warwickshire's own data shows B and C roads in RED condition up 45% since 2020/21 and 13% of unclassified roads in RED condition — both are claim-relevant facts.
What if my pothole was on a residential or unclassified road?
Unclassified roads make up 2,195km — 56% of Warwickshire's 3,929km carriageway network. The council historically surveyed them using Coase Visual Inspection over two years, and only publishes the RED percentage (13% in 2024/25, equivalent to roughly 285km). For 2025/26 it is changing methodology, and the new survey will take three years to complete a full network assessment. Safety inspections are separate from condition surveys — ask when your road was last condition-assessed, not just last driven by an inspector.
Does Warwickshire spending above its DfT allocation weaken my claim?
No. Warwickshire projects £29.936m capital spend against a £25.465m DfT allocation in 2025/26 — roughly 18% above the grant — yet still earns an AMBER Spend scorecard. The DfT judges spend against network need, not just the headline figure. The council's own asset management plan acknowledges that available funding is unlikely to match maintenance need, and that reducing preventative treatments will inevitably worsen annual performance.
The council says its roads compare favourably nationally — does that matter?
Warwickshire's combined classified-road RCI for 2024/25 shows 4.34% RED against 11% for England and Wales — genuinely better on that benchmark. But the DfT still rates condition AMBER overall, B/C RED roads have risen from 2.9% to 4.2%, and the council itself warns that national comparisons are not representative of success or failure at the local level. Your claim is about the specific defect on your road, not Warwickshire's ranking against Derbyshire.
Pothole repairs spiked to 11,614 in 2023/24 — does the fall to 10,099 mean roads are fixed?
No. Warwickshire still filled 10,099 potholes in 2024/25 and expects to permanently repair over 12,000 in the current financial year. The five-year total is 39,556 filled potholes from find-and-fix gangs and reactive repairs combined. A network producing defects at that rate is one where potholes routinely form between inspections — exactly where prior reports and photographic evidence decide claims.
Warwickshire is changing its survey methodology — how does that affect my claim?
From 2026/27 the council will use BSI PAS 2161, which breaks the existing red/amber/green time series. For 2025/26 it is aligning unclassified road surveys with the classified network methodology, but the survey will take three years for a full network pass. If your incident falls during a transition year, ask which survey standard applied to your road and whether condition data existed at all for that location.
Data sources: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026 | Warwickshire County Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (2025). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.