How do you report a pothole?
Potholes and surface defects on roads are a big problem in the UK. Not only do they look unsightly, but they also pose a real safety hazard to road users. According to new research 905,000 potholes were reported on UK roads in 2017/18 and, in turn, those potholes cost local authorities almost £3 million in compensation over the same years.
It is safe to say that potholes are a big concern for road users. And, ultimately, the responsibility of pothole repair falls to the highway’s authority. However, sudden reporting of potholes is needed so that the highway’s authority can assess the damage and then schedule repairs for these areas.Â
In this article, we’ll cover how you report a pothole in the
How To Report A Pothole
If you come across a pothole, the first step in reporting it is to visit the Government’s Report A Pot Hole web page. On this screen, you will be asked to enter the postcode of the road where you found the pothole in England or Wales. Once you have entered the postcode, a screen will appear telling you which council body is responsible for that road, and you will be able to click through to that council’s website.
Doing this should take you through to the relevant page on the council’s website to report a pothole or damage to the highway surface. The layout and look of the website will vary from council to council. However, you should find a button on these pages marked ‘Report a problem’ or ‘Report potholes and road damage’. From here, you should be able to pinpoint on a map the location of the pothole and submit your report to the council.
If you are in Scotland and looking to report a pothole, you should visit the Scottish Government’s website to find a link to the relevant local council site. In Northern Ireland, you can file a report and book highway repairs with the government of Northern Ireland directly on their website.Â
When To Report Road Damage
As well as potholes, you should report any road damage including areas of road surfacing starting to break up, dips and depressions. Other issues that can normally be reported through the relevant local council’s website include drainage and flooding problems (including blocked gulleys) and problems with pavements and footpaths.
Much like roads, you might notice potholes, dips, depressions, or areas starting to break up in a footpath. These should be reported as soon as you notice them as they can pose a threat to public safety. For example, a person might trip and hurt themselves while walking over a pothole. Other problems with footpaths you can report include loose paving stones and damaged kerbs, as well as worn road markings, problems with manhole covers, grates, bollards, and guardrails.
What To Do If Your Vehicle Is Damaged
As mentioned above, potholes can cause significant damage to people and vehicles. A significant number of claims are made every year for compensation due to potholes. If your vehicle sustains damage due to a pothole you can make a claim by contacting the relevant authority for the area and type of road. Generally, if a pothole caused damage to your vehicle on a major A-road or motorway in England you can contact Highways England directly. Alternatively, should your vehicle sustain damage due to a pothole on any other road in England, you should contact the responsible council.
Pothole Repair from BituChem
At BituChem, we have developed superior surface technology for efficient pothole repair across the UK. Our highway emulsion, when used in collaboration with mobile patch repair systems, can be used during both planned and emergency pothole repair on all types of roads by local and highway’s authorities.
What makes our pothole repair solutions so effective and safe is the way in which they are carried out. Rather than being manually applied, our highway emulsion can be remotely applied from the safety of the truck cab using an adjustable boom. This method improves safety in the application and the finish, making pothole repair cost-effective, quick, and efficient with minimal disruption experienced by road users.
To find out more about pothole repair from BituChem, contact us.
