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Report a pothole
We inspect adopted roads in the borough regularly to identify defects such as potholes, but your reports help us identify issues sooner and understand exactly where problems are developing between scheduled inspections.
When you make a report, we assess the risk posed by these defects and prioritise them for repair.
We're not responsible for repairing potholes on:
- private roads - repairs should be carried out by the landowner
- un-adopted roads - repairs should be carried out by the developer
- trunk roads (M1, A628 etc) - repairs to these roads should be carried out by National Highways
Before making a report
You can check if a pothole has already been reported to us on the map below. You can also check the status of existing reports by selecting a pin on the map.
Reported potholes map
Types of road defect
Before making a pothole report, check to see if the defect is classed as a pothole or a different type of road defect.
Potholes
If the defect looks similar to the pothole in the photo below, you should report this to us so we can assess if it needs repair or ongoing monitoring. We'll repair potholes which exceed the following sizes:
- on roads - width 150mm (6 inches) and depth 50mm (2 inches)
- on pavements - width 75mm (3 inches) and depth 25mm (1 inch)
- on pedestrian crossing points across a road - width 75mm (3 inches) and depth 25mm (1 inch)
Carriageway stripping/surface erosion
Road surface erosion or stripping similar to those in the photo below wouldn't meet our criteria for safety defect repairs, or be considered a risk to road users at this time. No repair work would be scheduled, but we'd continue to monitor the location during our routine inspections and carry out repairs if the condition of the road changed.
Surface cracking/crazing
Road surface cracking or crazing similar to those in the photo below wouldn't meet our criteria for safety defect repairs, or be considered a risk to road users at this time. No repair work would be scheduled, but we'd continue to monitor the location during our routine inspections and carry out repairs if the condition of the road changed.
Reporting a pothole
If the pothole you want to report isn't on the map, you can tell us about it using our online form.
If the pothole poses an immediate danger to public safety, call our 24 hour emergency helpline on 01226 773555. One of our highways inspectors will then visit the site to check the damage straight away.
Don't use the form to report potholes on:
- trunk roads, such as the:
- M1
- A61 (from M1 J36 to the A616 roundabout)
- A616 (from M1 J35A to the A628 Flouch roundabout)
- A628 from Flouch roundabout to the borough boundary at Saltersbrook Bridge)
Contact National Highways on 0300 123 5000 to report potholes on these roads.
- private roads - contact the road landowner to report the pothole
You'll need to show us on a map where the pothole is by clicking to drop a pin, and tell us as much detail as you can about the damage. You can upload a photo of the pothole as well, if you have one.
Reports won't be picked up outside office hours or over bank holidays, so if the damage needs urgent attention, please call our helpline.
After you've made your report
After you've submitted the form, the pothole you’ve reported will show as a new pin on the map. You might need to wait a couple of minutes and refresh the page before it appears. The pin will stay on the map for at least 28 days, during which time you can come back to this webpage to check the status of your report.
The pins on the map show the following type of report:
- Newly reported (orange pins) - new pothole reports made in the last 24 hours.
- In progress (green pins) - reports which are currently being investigated.
- Closed (blue pins) - reports which have been investigated and any necessary actions planned. This doesn't always mean a repair has been completed, or that the issue has been fully resolved yet. You can select the pin on the map to see a more detailed status and what this means.
Once the pin drops off the map, you won't be able make further enquiries about your report unless you have your reference number.
What we'll do
We investigate all reported potholes. For a pothole to be fixed, it has to be an 'actionable defect' in line with defined guidelines.
How quickly we repair a pothole depends on how it's categorised, taking into account:
- the location
- depth and size
- type of road it's on
- risk to pedestrians and motorists
All repairs are prioritised by safety risk, level of road use and urgency. Some locations also require scheduled resurfacing rather than a quick repair, which takes longer to organise.
If we can't find the pothole when we visit the site, and are unable to get in contact with you for more information, we'll close the report.
Emergency defects
If the defect is an emergency, we'll make a temporary repair within 24 hours to make it safe. Short-term fixes are sometimes necessary during winter and periods of heavy rain or freezing conditions to address the immediate hazard but these may deteriorate sooner. When weather allows, we'll return to complete permanent repairs if required as part of our resurfacing schedule.
Non-urgent defects
Most potholes are classed as non-urgent, and will be scheduled for repair as part of our planned maintenance programme. After severe weather, defects often increase, so we focus our resources on urgent safety issues and schedule lasting repairs and resurfacing as needed.
Frequently asked questions about potholes
Why do I need to report potholes if the council carries out inspections?
We do complete regular inspections, but your reports help us identify issues sooner and understand exactly where problems are developing. Your reports allow inspectors to assess the location quickly, prioritise safety risks, and assign the correct type of repair. This partnership approach helps us keep the road network safe and ensures urgent issues aren’t missed between scheduled inspections.
How do I check whether a pothole has already been reported?
Our online map on this page shows all logged reports. Clicking on a pin will display whether a report has already been submitted and the stage it is currently at. This helps avoid duplicate reports and lets you check progress if you have already submitted a request.
Why hasn’t a reported pothole been repaired yet?
All repairs are prioritised by safety risk, level of road use and urgency. Some defects may need to queue behind jobs that pose a higher risk, particularly after periods of severe weather when the number of defects rises sharply. Some locations also require scheduled resurfacing rather than a quick repair, which takes longer to organise.
Why do you use temporary patches instead of resurfacing straight away?
We use a combination of temporary and permanent repair methods. Temporary repairs are used to make a location safe quickly, especially in poor weather when long-lasting work isn’t possible. Larger resurfacing schemes are then planned when conditions and scheduling allow. This ensures immediate risks are addressed while longer-term improvements are properly arranged.
Why do repairs sometimes fail quickly?
Short-term fixes are sometimes necessary during periods of heavy rain or freezing conditions. These address the immediate hazard but may deteriorate sooner. When weather allows, we return to complete permanent repairs as part of our resurfacing schedule.
Why are there more potholes in winter?
Winter weather has a major impact on road surfaces. Freeze–thaw cycles and prolonged rainfall widen existing cracks and rapidly create new defects. This leads to a rise in potholes during and after winter. We understand the frustration this causes and have increased staffing and repair capacity to work through locations in priority order.
What are you doing about widespread concerns over road conditions?
We recognise that road condition is a significant concern for many residents. Alongside emergency repairs, we are delivering a wider programme of resurfacing and long-term improvements across the borough to improve the road network.
Who is responsible for major routes like the M1 or A628?
Some major routes are maintained by National Highways rather than the council. If a report relates to one of these roads, we redirect it to the appropriate organisation so action can be taken by the correct team.
What happens after I report an issue?
When you submit a report online (or call us directly), it will appear as a new pin on our map. This may take a short amount of time, and you may need to refresh the page. A highways inspector will then visit the site to investigate the defect. We investigate all reported potholes and assess what type of fix the defect requires.
If the defect is a pothole, it will be prioritised and repaired based on its category (which considers the location, size/depth, road type and risk to users). If the defect is an emergency, we will make a temporary repair within 24 hours to make it safe (followed by a permanent repair later if required).
Why can't you fix them all at once?
We prioritise repairs based on safety, considering the road type, defect size and depth, and risks to pedestrians and motorists. High-risk defects are fixed first, while others are scheduled through planned maintenance or resurfacing programmes. After severe weather, defects increase, so we focus resources on urgent safety issues and schedule lasting repairs and resurfacing as needed.