Local councils must publish detailed pothole repair data to secure their share of a £500m road repair fund, part of the government's larger £1.6bn investment in England's road infrastructure.

Starting mid-April, councils will receive funding capable of fixing 7 million potholes annually. However, they risk losing 25% (approximately £125m) if they fail to meet new transparency requirements.

Key requirements for councils:

• Publish annual reports by June 30 detailing expenditure, repairs completed, and road conditions
• Demonstrate increased investment in long-term road maintenance
• Develop strategies for managing weather-related road damage
• Show community engagement in road repair priorities by October's end
• Provide online portals for public pothole reporting

The government has also allocated £4.8bn to National Highways for 2025/6 to fund critical road projects, including:

• A428 Black Cat project (Cambridgeshire)
• A47 improvements (Norwich)
• M3 J9 project (Hampshire)

Current road conditions:

• Average of 6 potholes per mile in England and Wales
• Average repair cost per vehicle: £600
• Total road maintenance backlog: £17bn
• 96% of drivers consider pothole repairs a top priority

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasized the importance of accountability: "The public deserves to know how their councils are improving local roads, which is why they will have to show progress or risk losing funding."

This comprehensive approach aims to improve road infrastructure while ensuring transparency and efficient use of public funds.

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