Source
Department for Transport — Local road maintenance ratings 2025 to 2026
redOverall|red Conditionamber Spendred Best Practice
7.57% of B/C Roads Green on a RED-Rated Network
West Northamptonshire Council — a unitary authority formed in April 2021, distinct from North Northamptonshire and the former Northamptonshire County Council — maintains 2,489km of roads. The DfT rates it RED overall with RED condition and RED wider best practice scorecards. Just 7.57% of B/C roads remain in good condition — down 52% since 2020 — while the council filled an estimated 14,849 potholes in 2024/25 and spent only 4% on preventative maintenance that year.
7.57%
Of B/C roads in good condition (2024)
Down from 15.83% in 2020. Meanwhile 76.33% are amber and 16.10% red — 92.43% of the 726km B/C network now needs maintenance soon or now.
2,489km of Roads — Mostly Unclassified
Network scale from West Northamptonshire's April 2026 transparency report — where pothole claims actually happen
2,489km
Total carriageway
1,476km
Unclassified (U) roads
59% of the network
726km
B and C roads
287km
A roads
Principal corridors
Scope caveat: The strategic motorway and trunk road network (M1, M45, A5, A14 and A43) is maintained by National Highways, not West Northamptonshire Council. Private and unadopted streets may also fall outside council control. West Northamptonshire became a unitary authority in April 2021; separate DfT funding allocations for North and West Northamptonshire began in April 2022 — so 2020/21 and 2021/22 spending figures in the report are not directly comparable.
"Potholes remain as the defect that is most reported through our customer reporting tool Fix My Street. In addition to customer reporting, we also carry out regular inspections on the highway to identify any safety repairs that are needed."
— West Northamptonshire Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (April 2026)
What RED Condition Actually Shows
Annual high-resolution camera surveys from 2020 — with U-road amber/green data not published
Methodology caveat: Since 2020, condition assessments use high-resolution cameras and specialist software, aligned with BSI PAS2161 ahead of the mandatory 2026/27 standard. Five-category survey results are adjusted into three reporting categories (red, amber, green). From 2026/27 a new PAS2161 methodology with five published categories will apply — figures before and after that change may not be directly comparable.
B and C roads (726km) — 52% collapse in green condition
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 14.40% | 69.77% | 15.83% |
| 2021 | 17.70% | 68.70% | 13.60% |
| 2022 | 19.20% | 70.20% | 10.60% |
| 2023 | 14.93% | 76.56% | 8.51% |
| 2024 | 16.10% | 76.33% | 7.57% |
Good-condition B/C roads fell from 15.83% to 7.57% — a 52% relative decline. Amber B/C roads rose from 69.77% to 76.33%. This is the road class where most non-residential pothole claims sit.
A roads (287km) — green share down a third
| Year | Red | Amber | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4.20% | 61.20% | 34.60% |
| 2024 | 4.00% | 72.82% | 23.18% |
A-road green condition fell from 34.60% to 23.18% — a 33% relative decline — while amber A-roads rose from 61.20% to 72.82%. A-roads are 12% of the carriageway network.
Unclassified roads (1,476km) — RED only published
| Year | Red (U-roads only) |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 19.00% |
| 2022 | 18.60% |
| 2024 | 16.39% |
The council publishes only RED-condition percentages for U-roads — roughly 242km of residential and estate routes in the worst category at the 2024 survey. Amber and green U-road percentages are not reported, limiting network-level evidence for claims on local streets.
"Since 2020 road condition assessments on the West Northamptonshire local road network have been captured annually, using high-resolution cameras mounted on vehicles that capture thousands of detailed images of the road surface as the vehicle drives along."
— West Northamptonshire Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (April 2026)
Following the Money
AMBER spend scorecard — but preventative maintenance hit 4% in 2024/25 while reactive work reached 41%
| Year | DfT capital (£000s) | Capital spend (£000s) | Revenue spend (£000s) | Preventative | Reactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (proj.) | 14,618 | 14,618 | 6,484 | 16% | 38% |
| 2024/25 | 12,026 | 24,101 | 4,002 | 4% | 41% |
| 2023/24 | 13,923 | 19,088 | 2,958 | 14% | 38% |
| 2022/23 | 10,669 | 9,801 | 4,823 | 7% | 37% |
"Preventative maintenance is based on the amount spent on surface dressing, micro asphalt and retexturing treatments. These are treatments that are used to extend the life of the asset."
— West Northamptonshire Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (April 2026)
Why spend is AMBER, not GREEN
Capital spend exceeded the DfT allocation in 2024/25 (£24.1m vs £12.0m) and matches it exactly in the 2025/26 projection (£14.6m). But the DfT Spend scorecard also reflects how effectively that money prevents deterioration. With just 4% preventative share in 2024/25 — while B/C green condition kept falling — the council earns AMBER despite high capital volumes.
4%
Preventative share 2024/25
41%
Reactive share 2024/25
16%
Preventative projected 2025/26
70,097 Pothole Repairs in Five Years
Estimated potholes filled — the council's most-reported defect type via FixMyStreet
| Year | Potholes filled |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 14,769 |
| 2021/22 | 13,605 |
| 2022/23 | 12,300 |
| 2023/24 | 14,574 |
| 2024/25 | 14,849 |
| Five-year total | 70,097 |
14,019
Average per year
41
Potholes per day (2024/25)
5 years
No sustained decline
Reactive treadmill, not network recovery
Pothole counts stayed between 12,300 and 14,849 annually while B/C green condition fell from 15.83% to 7.57%. The council filled roughly 41 potholes per day in 2024/25 yet preventative spend that year was just 4%. That pattern — high reactive volume alongside deteriorating condition data — is evidence of ongoing failure demand, not proof your specific defect was unavoidable.
Innovation Claims vs RED Best Practice
The council lists Roadmender and thermal patching — the DfT rates wider best practice RED
What the council reports
- • Roadmender: polymer-modified bitumen permanent repairs with minimal waste
- • Thermal patching: reworks existing asphalt using heat without full excavation
- • Annual high-resolution camera surveys aligned with BSI PAS2161
- • 2025/26 plan: 6.79km micro asphalt, 13.2km surface dressing, 1.4km resurfacing
What the DfT measures
The wider best practice scorecard assesses whether councils adopt recognised efficiency and innovation practices — including technologies to fix and prevent potholes more efficiently. West Northamptonshire is RED on that measure despite its transparency report listing embedded innovations.
For 2025/26 the council plans to treat roughly 21.4km of its 2,489km network with preventative carriageway works — under 1% of total length in a single year.
"West Northamptonshire Council became a Unitary Authority in April 2021 and individual funding allocations for North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire were first made in April 2022."
— West Northamptonshire Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (April 2026)
Inspections, Surveys and Section 58
How West Northamptonshire says it knows network condition — and where gaps appear
Survey and inspection regime
- • Annual camera surveys on A, B/C and U roads since 2020
- • Regular safety inspections alongside FixMyStreet customer reporting
- • Pothole response times set by risk — not every defect gets immediate permanent repair
- • Online reports may not be reviewed for up to five working days
Funding limitation admission
On highway structures, the council states it is "recognised that limitations on funding may restrict maintenance spending in the short and medium term and in such situations the network will need to be proactively managed to maintain safety and availability." That published constraint is relevant when asking what was done on your road after it was classified amber or red.
Section 41 vs Section 58
Under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, West Northamptonshire 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 camera survey technology or a RED DfT scorecard.
- • What did the annual camera survey record for your road section — and when?
- • Were there prior FixMyStreet or council reports giving actual notice of the same defect?
- • Does photographic evidence show defect age beyond the council's inspection or response interval?
- • If your road was amber or red at survey, what preventative or reactive work followed?
Claiming Against a RED-Rated Council
Honest assessment: West Northamptonshire's RED scorecards give you leverage — but the council will still argue its inspection system
What works in the council's favour
- ✓ AMBER spend — capital exceeded DfT allocation in 2024/25 (£24.1m vs £12.0m)
- ✓ Annual camera surveys on all road classes since 2020
- ✓ Documented innovations (Roadmender, thermal patching) and PAS2161-aligned surveys
- ✓ Regular safety inspections plus FixMyStreet reporting channel
- ✓ Preventative share projected to rise to 16% in 2025/26
Expect a Section 58 defence citing annual surveys and risk-based pothole response times.
What works in yours
- ✗ RED overall, condition and wider best practice DfT scorecards
- ✗ Only 7.57% of B/C roads green; 92.43% amber or red
- ✗ 1,476km of U-roads with only RED percentages published (16.39% in 2024)
- ✗ 70,097 pothole repairs in five years — ~41 per day in 2024/25
- ✗ Just 4% preventative spend in 2024/25 while condition kept deteriorating
- ✗ Council admits funding limitations may restrict maintenance spending
The winning strategy here is specificity
Against a council with annual surveys and 14,000+ annual pothole fills, your claim lives or dies on the specific defect:
- • Prior FixMyStreet reports of the same pothole — proof of actual notice on the most-reported defect type
- • Photos showing defect size, depth and visible age (weathered edges, previous patching)
- • Your road's survey classification — amber or red B/C data, or U-road RED percentage context
- • The gap between claimed innovation and the DfT's RED best practice rating
Mac builds exactly this case: he searches for prior reports, assesses your photo evidence, and cites West Northamptonshire's own transparency data where it helps you.
Report a pothole to West Northamptonshire Council
Reporting a defect creates a record the council had notice. The council states online reports may not be reviewed for up to five working days — do this before claiming, and tell us when you reported it so we can reference it in your pack.
Report a pothole — westnorthants.gov.ukHit a Pothole in West Northamptonshire?
RED scorecards and 14,849 pothole fills demand a precise claim. £35 for a professional claim pack.
DIY claim
- • Submit photos and invoices
- • Use generic template letter
- • No 7.57% B/C condition context
- • No prior FixMyStreet search
- • No RED best practice rebuttal
Professional claim pack
- ✅ 7.57% B/C green condition documented
- ✅ RED DfT scorecards cited
- ✅ 14,849 pothole fills in 2024/25 referenced
- ✅ Prior reports searched and attached
- ✅ Section 58 rebuttal tailored to West Northamptonshire
No percentage fees. You keep 100% of any compensation.
Frequently asked questions
West Northamptonshire has RED DfT ratings — does that guarantee my claim will succeed?
No guarantee. The Department for Transport rates West Northamptonshire RED overall, RED on condition and RED on wider best practice — one of 13 red-rated authorities in England for 2025/26. That strengthens arguments about systemic maintenance pressure, but Section 58 still turns on whether the specific defect that damaged your vehicle was reasonably inspected and repaired. Your photos, prior reports and the road's survey classification matter more than the headline rating alone.
Only 7.57% of B/C roads are in good condition — how does that help my claim?
It shows network-level deterioration, not an isolated pothole. Good-condition B/C roads fell from 15.83% in 2020 to 7.57% in 2024 while amber B/C roads rose to 76.33% and red to 16.10% — meaning 92.43% of the 726km B/C network now needs maintenance soon or now. When claiming on a B or C road, you can ask what the council's annual camera survey recorded for your route and what action followed an amber or red classification.
What if my pothole was on an unclassified residential road?
U-roads make up 1,475.91km — 59% of West Northamptonshire's 2,489km carriageway network. The council publishes only RED-condition percentages for U-roads (16.39% in 2024); amber and green are not reported. The council does conduct annual high-resolution camera surveys across the network, but without full RAG data for U-roads your claim should focus on inspection records, prior FixMyStreet reports and photos showing defect age on your specific street.
The council spent £24.1m capital in 2024/25 — more than double its DfT allocation. Can I still claim?
Yes. The Spend scorecard is AMBER, not a bar to compensation. Section 58 turns on the specific defect, not aggregate budgets. In 2024/25 the council estimated just 4% of maintenance spend on preventative treatments (surface dressing, micro asphalt and retexturing) while 41% was reactive — including pothole filling. High capital volume alongside a RED condition scorecard suggests money is not translating into stable network condition at the point your pothole formed.
Why is best practice RED when the council lists Roadmender and thermal patching?
The DfT wider best practice scorecard is separate from what a council lists in its transparency report. West Northamptonshire describes embedded innovations including Roadmender polymer-modified repairs and thermal patching, and states its surveys align with BSI PAS2161 ahead of the 2026/27 mandate — yet the DfT still rates wider best practice RED. That gap between claimed innovation and official assessment is relevant to Section 58: you can ask whether the council's actual maintenance system — not its brochure — was reasonable for your defect.
The council filled 14,849 potholes in 2024/25 — does that mean the roads are maintained?
Not necessarily for your specific defect. Potholes are the most reported defect type through FixMyStreet, and the council filled an estimated 14,019 per year on average over five years — roughly 41 repairs per day in 2024/25. That volume of reactive work alongside falling B/C green condition (down 52% since 2020) indicates defects are forming continuously. Reactive patching does not prove your pothole was inspected, prioritised or permanently repaired within a reasonable time before your incident.
How do I report a pothole to West Northamptonshire Council?
Report potholes and highway problems via the council's online form at westnorthants.gov.uk or through FixMyStreet at fix.westnorthants.gov.uk — reports on FixMyStreet.com are routed to the same system. The council states online reports may not be reviewed for up to five working days. For urgent safety issues call 0300 126 7000 (Mon–Fri 9am–5pm) or 01604 651074 out of hours. Prior reports of the same defect strengthen a claim by demonstrating notice before your incident.
Data sources: Department for Transport — Local Road Maintenance Ratings 2025 to 2026 | West Northamptonshire Council Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report (April 2026). 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 RED; spend AMBER; best practice RED.
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.