Highway service standards - Publications

We carry out two main types of highway inspection to keep our roads, footways and other areas of the public highway safe.

Safety Inspections are planned at regular intervals based on the type and importance of the road, generally busier routes are inspected more frequently than quieter ones.

Reactive inspections take place when we receive reports from the public about potential hazards. Both types of inspection use a risk-based approach to identify and prioritise repairs, ensuring that urgent issues are addressed promptly while less critical defects are managed appropriately.

Further information about our inspection regime

Find out more about future planned works

We identify potholes through both our dedicated safety inspections and reports received from the public.

We prioritise pothole repairs using a risk-based approach, as explained in our Highway Safety Inspection Manual. This means we look at how likely a defect is to cause harm and the potential impact on road safety, so the most urgent issues are dealt with first. By taking this approach, we can make sure repairs happen where they’re needed most, helping to keep drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and other road users safe while maintaining the overall condition of Warwickshire’s roads. Our aim is to provide a safe and reliable network for everyone who uses it.

Whenever possible, we aim to carry out a permanent ‘first-time fix’ when repairing potholes. This means we cut out the damaged area around the pothole, remove any weakened material, and replace it with hot asphalt. This method provides the most durable and long-lasting repair.

If a permanent repair isn’t possible, often because the pothole needs urgent attention to keep the road safe, we carry out a temporary repair. The method we use depends on how quickly the repair is needed. If time allows, we use a hot material for a stronger finish. In emergency situations, where the pothole must be filled immediately, we use a cold-applied material.

Where a temporary pothole repair has to be undertaken, we will then arrange for this to receive a permanent repair (if suitable), as part of our planned programme of works.

Report a pothole

In addition to potholes identified through planned safety inspections and routine highway inspections, we have dedicated “Find and Fix” teams who regularly patrol our roads (excluding A roads) to identify and repair potholes before they become a bigger problem.

This proactive approach helps us catch defects early, preventing them from developing into more serious issues that require major repairs. By acting quickly, we reduce future disruption and keep the network safer and more reliable for everyone.

Warwickshire County Council manages around 115,000 gully assets and employs a risk-based approach to their maintenance. High-risk sites are emptied more frequently, with schedules including 3-monthly and 6-monthly intervals. Low-risk gullies are maintained on triennial basis.

Additionally, a routine jetting programme is conducted to address problematic drainage systems identified from public reports or during ad-hoc inspections.
If you spot a blocked road gully you can report it to us.

We maintain rural verges, the grassed areas alongside roads outside towns and villages, usually where speed limits are above 40 mph.

Our mowing is carried out for safety rather than appearance. Cutting the grass helps ensure that drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians have clear visibility and can use roads and footways safely. This is especially important at junctions and bends where sightlines are critical.

We cut a one-metre-wide strip along the verge and carry out extra cutting at junctions and bends twice a year. These scheduled cuts help keep visibility clear throughout the main growing season.

If visibility becomes significantly impaired and safety is at risk, we may arrange additional cuts at specific locations.

Report overgrown vegetation online

Roadside verges in towns and villages (non-rural) are important gateways to our communities and help create a sense of pride in the local area. These verges are usually maintained by your district or borough council.

The number of grass cuts varies depending on the arrangements in place with each council. This means some areas may receive more frequent cuts than others.

For more information on the maintenance of the non-rural verges, please contact your district or borough council:

• North Warwickshire Borough Council
• Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
• Rugby Borough Council
• Stratford-on-Avon District Council
• Warwick District Council

Untreated weeds in road channels can damage paved surfaces and kerbstones, block drainage systems, and increase the risk of slips, trips, and falls for pedestrians. These issues can negatively impact highway safety.

To prevent this, we carry out cyclical weed spraying once a year in our towns and villages. We focus solely on kerbed carriageway channels and roads with speed limits of 40mph or below.

Our specialist contractor uses best practices to avoid overspray and protect people, pets, and gardens, including:

• Low-drift nozzles and low spray pressure
• Adjuvants in the mix to reduce drift
• No spraying in unsuitable weather conditions
• All operators are fully qualified and certified

Some district and borough councils also spray weeds as part of their street cleansing duties, which may include footways, parks, and open spaces.

We also manage injurious weeds in line with a dedicated treatment plan. Our control methods target known locations where invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam, or Giant Hogweed have accumulated.

If you have concerns about significant infestations of injurious weeds on our network, you can report them directly.

Report a problem with Japanese Knotweed or Ragwort 

We carry out siding, trimming back grass and vegetation from the edges of footways, on an 'as-needed' basis. This work is important to keep our footways clear and safe for pedestrians.

In addition, we undertake siding ahead of any planned footway maintenance or renewal schemes to ensure the area is prepared for the works.

By removing overgrowth, we help maintain the integrity of the footway surface and ensure there is enough space for people to walk safely without obstruction. This is especially important for people with mobility issues, including those using wheelchairs, pushchairs, or other aids.

Report overgrown vegetation online

We will maintain WCC owned hedges as necessary to provide safe passage to road users. We also undertake an annual hedge flailing program of hedges that are the responsibility of WCC to maintain.

Private hedges are the owner’s responsibility, but we will take steps to ensure that and hedges that are overhanging or endangering the highway are cut back or made safe.

We will maintain WCC owned trees in accordance with the principles of best arboriculture practice. Inspections of trees will be undertaken on a five-year cyclical basis.

Private trees are the owner’s responsibility, but we will take steps to ensure that and trees that are overhanging or endangering the highway are cut back or made safe.

We repair old or damaged road signs and posts, pedestrian barriers, and vehicle restraint systems signs in accordance with the Traffic Signs Regulations and replace when necessary through damage or dilapidation, and cleaning of signs will be carried out in order to maintain their function. This ensures the durability and effectiveness of these assets, thereby enhancing road safety and providing clear, reliable guidance to all road users.

Replacement and cleansing will be carried out as necessary within budget constraints using a risk-based approach.

We shall consider the need for, and compliance with current regulations on road markings before renewing or replacing them after surface dressing or structural maintenance schemes. This ensures the durability and effectiveness of these markings, thereby enhancing road safety and providing clear, reliable guidance to all road users. Mandatory markings will be prioritised for replacement when they present an urgent or imminent hazard to road users.

Replacement will be carried out as necessary within budget constraints using a risk-based approach. 

We replace columns and upgrade lanterns, ensuring the reliability and efficiency of our street lighting infrastructure, enhancing visibility and safety for all road users.

Emergency damage aim – to make safe within one hour. Aim to replace column within one month.

Routine fault – repair within five working days.

Cable fault – repair within two to four weeks.

Cleaning and changing lamps – in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations.

We will only permit the attachment of hanging baskets, signs, banners or other fixings to street lighting columns if:

• Prior written consent has been obtained. 
• The columns have been assessed for their structural strength by the Street Lighting Group.

Obstructions of the highway can take a number of forms, for example fences, walls, rocks, ‘A’ boards and signs. Those which cause a hazard will be removed. Some less hazardous obstructions, such as trees or tables outside restaurants, may be allowed by permit or licence.

Permission may be granted by WCC to individuals or community groups subject to conditions.

Permission should be sought from the relevant County Highways Area Office.

While we recognise the sensitive nature of roadside tributesand the laying of floral tributes, we must manage them with compassion while ensuring they do not compromise highway safety.

Temporary tributes permitted: Floral tributes may be placed at the site of a fatal accident. Floral tributes should have all plastics or non-compostable material removed. We strongly discourage the placing of any items such as soft toys, lanterns or photographs.

Time limit: Tributes are allowed for up to 30 days following the incident. After this period, we kindly request that they are removed otherwise, they may need to be taken down by ourselves to maintain safety.

Safety requirement: Tributes must not obstruct traffic, pedestrians, or create hazards for mourners, or passing traffic or pedestrians.

Signs placed on the highway can distract drivers or obstruct visibility, creating potential safety risks. For this reason, unauthorised signs are not permitted on the highway.

Any signs that present a hazard to road users will be removed by the highway authority without notice.

In addition, advertising signs are strictly prohibited to maintain the safety and integrity of the highway environment.

Certain temporary signs, such as those for events, housing developments, or charitable activities, may be permitted on the highway. However, these require a valid licence.

Further information on the application process

To put a builder’s skip on a public road, the skip company will need a skip licence from Warwickshire County Council as the highway authority. Skip and Scaffold licences will be granted subject to the conditions contained in the Highways Act 1980.

Further guidance and the application process for skip licences

We will permit the construction of vehicular accesses (subject to the granting of planning permission where required). Footway crossings should also conform to the guidelines given in Warwickshire’s 'Road Design Guide' and 'County Surfacing and Structural Maintenance Policy – 2009'.

We treat approximately 46% of our 3,820 km (2,368 mile) highway network. When ice is forecast, we spread salt on all main traffic routes, including A roads, most B roads, key strategic urban roads, and access routes to hospitals and major industrial estates. We also ensure there is a single treated route into every village.

Schools are only gritted if they are already on these designated routes. We do not treat all roads because of budget, vehicle capacity, and deployment limitations, but requests for adding roads to the gritting schedule can be considered.

Further information about gritting

We do not routinely provide grit bins. However, parish and town councils may request to install them, provided permission is obtained from County Highways. Once approved, grit bins are filled before the start of each winter season and replenished as resources allow throughout the winter.

Report an empty grit bin

We aim to answer telephone calls within seven rings during office hours. If lines are busy or staff are unavailable, you may reach voicemail. This will state staff availability and an alternative contact if someone is out of the office. The Customer Service Centre is open:

• Monday to Thursday - 9am to 5pm
• Friday - 9am to 4.30pm