Buckinghamshire Highways Maintenance Transparency Report
What we're doing about potholes and other road defects
What a pothole is
A pothole is where the surface of the road has been eroded and a hollow has formed. Potholes usually form through a process called the ‘freeze-thaw’ cycle, where water enters cracks in the road surface, freezes and expands, then thaws. Repeated freezing and thawing weaken the road, and traffic passing over the weakened area can cause the surface to break away, forming a pothole. For carriageways, we generally record potholes when they are 40mm (around the height of a golf ball) or over in depth, and 300mm (length of a typical ruler) across in any direction. These minimum recording levels are used alongside inspector judgement and risk-based assessment.
What we are doing to tackle potholes
Our approach to tackling potholes is based on a proactive, risk-based approach as detailed in our Highway Safety Inspection Policy. Area and Safety Inspectors regularly inspect their local areas for potholes, road defects and other highway issues. Roads are inspected according to a scheduled programme, allowing defects to be identified and programmed for repair before they are reported by the public where possible.
We also receive reports from the public through FixMyStreet. All reported defects are inspected and assessed to determine whether a repair is required and what type of repair is most appropriate. Repairs are prioritised based on safety, risk and network management considerations.
The table below shows the estimated number of pothole repairs completed in recent financial years.
| Year | Estimated number of potholes filled |
|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 15,891 |
| 2022/23 | 17,061 |
| 2023/24 | 18,851 |
| 2024/25 | 14,812 |
| 2025/26 | 10,328 |
A pothole repair could be a patch covering multiple potholes, however these will be counted as a single repair.
Where it is safe and practical to do so, we prioritise permanent repairs to reduce repeat visits and avoid defects recurring in the same locations. However, not all defects can be permanently repaired at the first visit due to safety, risk, weather, access, traffic management or programme constraints. Preventative maintenance and programmed works such as surface dressing, micro surfacing and crack and joint sealing are also used to help reduce the likelihood of potholes forming in the first place.
How members of public can report potholes and other highway defects
If you spot a problem on the highway network, the quickest way to notify us is to report this online using FixMyStreet.
If you are unable to use FixMyStreet, our Contact Centre can submit a report on your behalf:
- Office Hours (Mon-Thurs 9am–5:30pm, Friday 9am–5pm) - 0300 131 6000
- Out-of-Hours and Weekends - 01296 486630
- Text Relay Service (for those who cannot hear or speak on the phone) - 18001 0300 131 6000
For more extreme, or ongoing, highway concerns, you can contact your local councillor or town/parish council who can discuss the issue with Buckinghamshire Highways on your behalf.
What happens after a pothole is reported
When a pothole or other defect is reported to us, we aim to review the issue within 10 working days and carry out appropriate action in line with our Highway Safety Inspection Policy. When the issue or defect has been assessed we will update the FixMyStreet report and send you an email. Sometimes, however, additional work may be required to gather further information/details of the issue. We appreciate the public's patience in these circumstances, as taking the time to fully assess the issue helps us ensure the most appropriate and effective solution is delivered.
For more information on potholes in Buckinghamshire and how we fix them, take a look at our Highways Highlight - Potholes driving you round the bend? | Buckinghamshire Council.