What we are doing about potholes and other road defects
What is a pothole?
A pothole is a hole or depression in the road or pavement surface caused by the gradual breakdown of the material. Potholes often develop when water enters cracks in the surface and weakens the layers beneath, particularly during wet or freezing weather and on routes carrying higher volumes of traffic.
When a pothole is reported by a member of the public, or identified during a routine safety inspection, it is assessed to determine the most appropriate response. This assessment considers factors such as the size and location of the defect, the type of road or footway, traffic levels, and the potential risk to people using the highway.
Warwickshire County Council uses a risk-based approach to prioritise repairs, ensuring that defects presenting the greatest risk are addressed first. Depending on the level of risk, defects may be made safe or repaired within two hours, by the next working day, within five working days, or within 30 days for lower-risk defects. This approach helps ensure resources are directed to where they are needed most while maintaining a safe and reliable highway network.
What we are doing to tackle potholes?
Warwickshire County Council takes a proactive approach to tackling potholes, combining regular highway inspections, reports from residents, targeted maintenance programmes and dedicated Find and Fix teams. During 2025/26, the Council repaired 12,857 potholes across the county.
Where possible, the Council prioritises permanent repairs that provide a longer-lasting solution and help reduce the need for repeat visits. In some circumstances, particularly where a defect presents an immediate safety risk, a temporary repair may be carried out first to make the highway safe before a more permanent repair can be completed. Of the 12,857 potholes repaired during 2025/26, 8,214 were repaired using permanent methods and 4,643 using temporary methods.
Preventing potholes from forming is an important part of Warwickshire’s maintenance strategy. The Council invests in preventative treatments such as surface dressing, patching, resurfacing and drainage improvements to help keep water out of the road structure and slow deterioration before more serious defects develop.
These treatments help extend the life of the highway network, reduce the need for emergency repairs and provide better value for money. Dedicated Find and Fix teams also work throughout the year to identify and repair smaller defects before they develop into larger potholes, helping to keep roads safer and in better condition for everyone who uses them.
How members of public can report potholes and other highway defects
Members of the public can report potholes and other highway defects through Warwickshire County Council’s online Report It service. The service is hosted on the Council’s Jadu platform, with report information captured through Microsoft Dynamics and transferred directly into the Alloy highways asset management system for assessment and action. Reports can also be submitted through the Council’s Customer Service Centre, by email, by post, via FixMyStreet, or through the Council’s social media channels.
To help us investigate issues efficiently, customers are encouraged to provide accurate location information and photographs where possible. The online reporting service allows customers to track the progress of their report and receive updates throughout the process, providing greater transparency and keeping them informed of any inspections, investigations or repairs.
What happens after a pothole is reported
When a pothole or other highway defect is reported, the information is reviewed by the relevant highways team to determine whether an inspection is required. Defects are assessed using a risk-based approach that considers factors such as size, location, traffic levels and the potential impact on highway users.
Depending on the outcome of the assessment, the response may include making the defect safe, arranging a repair, monitoring the location, or adding it to a future maintenance programme. Information from public reports is also used to identify recurring issues and help target future maintenance investment and preventative treatments across the network.
