Today (17 April), CIHT Past President, Neil Johnstone, appeared on BBC Morning Live to discuss the increase in potholes and the conditions of England’s highways network, highlighting the condition of local roads reflects years of sustained underinvestment. 

Johnstone drew a clear distinction between the maintenance of strategic roads and the local highways network (LHN).  

National Highways (NH) maintain more than 4,500 miles of motorways and major A-roads which are at the core of England’s road transport system. National Highways benefits from a longer-term funding agreement with the UK Government, enabling them to proactively plan repairs and maintenance.  

Johnstone emphasised that approximately 97% of England’s roads - the local highways network, managed by local authorities, has experienced fragmented and prolonged underfunding, resulting in a substantial maintenance backlog. 

“Public perception is largely shaped by the condition of local roads,” he said, adding that the network has “been underfunded for many years, to the extent that there is now a significant backlog.” 

Risk-Based Maintenance Prioritisation 

Addressing how local authorities determine repair priorities, Johnstone explained that decisions are made through a risk-based framework centred on public safety. Factors including traffic volume, network importance, and the severity of road defects are assessed to guide priority of intervention. 

“It is fundamentally a safety-first approach,” he stated, indicating that limited resources necessitate careful prioritisation rather than comprehensive, immediate repair. 

Calls for Long-Term Funding  

Johnstone highlighted shortcomings in the current maintenance funding model, describing it as predominantly reactive.  

He argued that the prevailing approach, responding to defects such as potholes after they emerge, does not represent optimal use of public funds. 

“This is a reactive process,” he said. “We are addressing defects after they occur, rather than preventing their formation.” 

CIHT has previously advocated for a transition towards planned, preventive maintenance, supported by stable, long-term funding settlements. Such an approach would enable local authorities to intervene earlier, extend asset life, introduce resilience measures, and reduce overall lifecycle costs. 

Public Liability and Reporting Mechanisms 

Johnstone also outlined the routes available for individuals who suffer injury or damage because of road defects. Claims may be pursued against local authorities; however, he stressed the importance of timely and well-documented reporting. 

Complainants are advised to provide precise location details and photographic evidence. Many local authorities operate dedicated reporting portals, while national platforms such as ‘FixMyStreet’ offer a centralised mechanism for logging issues within the public realm. 

Sustained Challenges for Local Authorities 

Johnstone’s remarks underscore broader concerns regarding the resilience of England’s local road infrastructure. With constrained budgets and rising maintenance demands, local authorities face ongoing challenges in balancing immediate safety requirements with the need for long-term asset management. 

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The BBC Morning Live programme is available to watch here.  

Watch the program segment on potholes and CIHT Past President, Neil Johnstone, from 04:17 – 11:33.  

CIHT’s policy report ‘Unlocking the benefits of longer-term funding for local roads’ highlights how despite their critical importance to individuals, communities, and businesses and a national asset exceeding £400 billion in value, local roads remain subject to short-term, fragmented funding from different sources and funding pots.

This funding approach has significantly hindered effective asset management and contributed to a growing maintenance backlog. 

CIHT is calling the government to harness the potential from improved longer-term planning through longer-term funding certainty. This will deliver extra value for taxpayers and directly support the delivery of the government’s missions, particularly economic growth. 

CIHT looks forward to working with local authorities across England, Department for Transport, and the UK Government to create a transport network fit for the future.