Kirklees Council has been given an “amber” rating in a new government system ranking how well local authorities tackle potholes.
The new ratings rank local highways authorities as red, amber or green based on current road conditions and how effectively they are spending government funding to fix potholes and invest in long term measures to maintain roads.
Kirklees was given an overall rating of amber, as well as amber for the condition of its roads and for how well it adopts best practice. But the local authority secured a green rating for how it is spending the government’s investment.
Elsewhere in Yorkshire and the Humber, Leeds and Rotherham were scored as green overall for demonstrating that they follow best practice such as investing in more long-term preventative measures rather than just patching up potholes, while also maintaining good road conditions and investing significantly in improving local roads.
Authorities rated ‘red’ – which doesn’t include any in the region – are not yet meeting the expected standards in one or several areas measured by the ratings such as the current state of the roads, their plans for preventing potholes or investment into maintaining their local roads more widely.
To unlock the highest level of government funding available, councils now have to publish transparency reports to demonstrate how they are complying with best practice. Kirklees’ report estimates that in 2024/25, the council filled in 37,641 potholes, compared with 33,539 in 2023/24 and 35,212 in 2022/23.
Kirklees Council also has a traffic light ranking system for its roads, showing that condition has declined over the years. In 2024, 4.6 per cent of A roads were put in the lowest “red” category – meaning they should be considered for maintenance – whereas in 2022, just 2.1 per cent fell into this category.
The percentage of “green” Kirklees roads which require no treatment is also on the decline, peaking at 80 per cent in 2022, to 71.5 per cent in 2024.
Councillor Tyler Hawkins, Cabinet Member for Highways said: “Repairing our roads is an absolute priority for the council. We know how frustrating potholes and damaged surfaces are for residents and we are tackling them.
“During the 2024/25 financial year, Kirklees Council repaired 37,641 potholes across the district and resurfaced 62.9 kilometres of our highway network, but we know there is more to do. Regular inspections are carried out throughout the year and we invest in preventative treatments such as surface dressing, which helps stop potholes forming in the first place. These works are among the most efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective ways to improve our roads.
“We remain firmly committed to carrying out improvements and making everyday journeys safer and more reliable for everyone who lives, works and travels in Kirklees.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “For too long drivers in Yorkshire and the Humber have paid the price because our roads were left to deteriorate. I have heard time and again their frustration on footing the bill because they hit a pothole – money they should never have to spend in the first place.
“We’ve put our money where our mouth is, increasing the funding in Yorkshire and the Humber with £500m to fix roads and given them the long-term certainty they have been asking for. Now it’s over to them to spend the money wisely, and for the first time we are making sure the public can see how well local highway authorities are doing in delivering the improvements they want to see in their local area.
“This government’s record investment will save drivers money on repairs, make roads safer and help restore pride in our communities.”
