Improving roads 'priority' after amber rating
BBCA council has said improving the condition of local roads is a priority after it received an amber rating by the government.
Durham County Council received the grade based on the condition of roads, however its spending on road repairs was rated green.
It is part of a new mapping tool, where 154 local highway authorities in England are rated red, amber or green based on their road conditions and how well they are using government funds. The vast majority were rated as amber.
The Reform UK-led council said initiatives, including a preventative pothole programme, were already "making a positive difference".
Cabinet member for rural, farming and transport Tim McGuinness said improving and maintaining highways was "a top priority" for the council.
Figures show the local authority carried out 129,838 pothole repairs between January 2022 and September 2025, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
The council said it received the same number of reported potholes across the same time period.
"The introduction of enhanced computer-based systems and artificial intelligence in highway inspections and condition monitoring is helping us identify the right treatment at the right time," McGuinness said.
"We have also launched a preventative pothole programme, repairing carriageways before potholes form."
County Durham will receive a share of £22m from the North East Combined Authority to fund road repairs between 2026 and 2027.
Common vehicle problems caused by potholes include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.
The RAC estimates a typical repair bill for a family car suffering pothole damage beyond a puncture is £590.
