Who fixes potholes where you live?
Getty ImagesTo mark National Pothole Day 2026 this week, we've taken a look at how potholes are managed across the south.
Responsibility, repair times and levels of investment can vary from place to place.
Here's a guide to how things compare where you live.
OXFORDSHIRE
Who is responsible?
In Oxfordshire, potholes on most roads are dealt with by Oxfordshire County Council. National Highways is responsible for the M40 and major A-roads like the A34.
How much money is spent on fixing potholes?
Pothole repairs are funded through the council's wider highways maintenance programme.
The council says its total highways maintenance spending was around £62.5m in 2024/25, rising to a projected £69.2m in 2025/26. It says additional reactive repairs may also be needed during the year, depending on road conditions and weather.
How many potholes does it fill?
The council said it filled 37,042 potholes in 2024/25.
How quickly are potholes dealt with?
Oxfordshire County Council says potholes are assessed according to the level of risk they pose. Serious defects may be inspected and addressed within hours, while less urgent issues are repaired within days or added to the council's regular repair programme.
How can people report a pothole?
People can report potholes to the council online.
BERKSHIRE
Who is responsible?
In Berkshire, responsibility is split between six unitary councils, including Reading Borough Council and West Berkshire Council. The M4, the M3 and the A34 are managed by National Highways.
How much money is spent on fixing potholes?
Pothole repairs are funded through councils' wider highways maintenance budgets.
West Berkshire Council says its total highways maintenance spending was around £13.9m in 2024/25, rising to around £19.1m in 2025/26.
Bracknell Forest Council says it spent around £8.6m on highways maintenance in 2024/25, with around £9.3m projected for 2025/26.
Slough Borough Council says its highways maintenance spending was around £1.1m in 2024/25, with around £1.9m projected for 2025/26.
Wokingham Borough Council says it spent around £6.1m on carriageway maintenance in 2024/25, with around £7.6m projected for 2025/26. The council notes these figures relate to carriageways only and do not include wider management costs.
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead says its highways maintenance spending was around £11.7m in 2024/25, with around £16.0m projected for 2025/26.
Reading Borough Council says it spent around £9.6m on highways maintenance in 2024/25, with around £8.4m projected for 2025/26.
How many potholes does it fill?
West Berkshire Council estimates it filled 3,048 potholes in 2024/25.
Bracknell Forest Council estimates it filled 1,007 potholes in 2024/25.
Slough Borough Council estimates it filled 1,393 potholes in 2024/25.
Wokingham Borough Council estimates it repaired 2,052 potholes in 2024/25.
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead estimates it filled 2,791 potholes in 2024/25.
Reading Borough Council estimates it filled 1,590 potholes in 2024/25.
How quickly are potholes dealt with?
Councils across Berkshire say potholes are prioritised using risk-based systems.
West Berkshire Council says response times vary depending on the severity of the defect.
Bracknell Forest Council says urgent defects can be repaired within two to 24 hours, while lower-risk potholes are typically dealt with within 28 days.
Wokingham Borough Council says defects are prioritised based on risk, with the most serious issues addressed first.
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead says it uses a priority-based system for road repairs.
Reading Borough Council says potholes are assessed on safety grounds, with response times ranging from three hours to 28 days, or programmed into future resurfacing works.
Slough Borough Council says it uses a risk-based priority system, but has not published specific target timescales for inspection or repair.
How can people report a pothole?
In West Berkshire, potholes can be reported via the council's website or by phone.
Bracknell Forest Council asks residents to report potholes through its online reporting form.
Wokingham Borough Council provides online forms for reporting potholes and other road or footway damage.
In Slough, potholes can be reported through the council's online highways reporting system.
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead also provides an online reporting service for highway defects.
Reading Borough Council asks residents to report road and street problems, including potholes, through its website.
Councillor Craig MonksHAMPSHIRE
Who is responsible?
In Hampshire, responsibility for potholes is split between three highway authorities: Hampshire County Council, which covers most of the county, Southampton City Council, and Portsmouth City Council.
National Highways is responsible for motorways and major A-roads in the county, including the M3, M27, M271, A3(M) and sections of the A34.
How much money is spent on fixing potholes?
Pothole repairs are funded through councils' wider highways maintenance budgets.
Hampshire County Council said its total highways maintenance spending was around £120m in 2024/25, with around £103.8m projected for 2025/26.
Southampton City Council said it spent around £7.9m on highways maintenance in 2024/25, with around £8.1m projected for 2025/26. The council said capital funding may increase during the year if budgets are redistributed or additional approvals are made.
Portsmouth City Council said its highways maintenance spending was around £33.5m in 2024/25, with around £34.5m projected for 2025/26.
How many potholes does it fill?
Hampshire County Council said it fixed 32,419 potholes in 2024/25.
Southampton City Council said it repaired 4,247 potholes in 2024/25.
Portsmouth City Council estimates it filled 1,510 potholes in 2024/25.
How quickly are potholes dealt with?
Southampton City Council says potholes are prioritised by risk, with emergencies made safe within 24 hours and most non-urgent repairs carried out within six months
Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council say potholes and other defects are prioritised based on risk and road category, with the most serious issues addressed first. Neither council published specific target timescales for inspection or repair.
How can people report potholes?
Potholes can be reported online to Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council and Portsmouth City Council via each authority's highways reporting pages.
ISLE OF WIGHT
Who is responsible?
On the Isle of Wight, potholes on local roads are the responsibility of Isle of Wight Council. The council delivers highway maintenance through a long-term Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract with Island Roads Services Ltd.
How much money is spent on fixing potholes?
The Isle of Wight Council does not hold a traditional annual highways maintenance budget in the same way as most mainland authorities.
Instead, highway maintenance is delivered through a 25-year PFI contract with Island Roads Services Ltd, under which the council pays an annual Unitary Charge, split into monthly payments. The total value of payments over the life of the contract is estimated at around £726m, based on an assumed inflation rate of 2.5%.
How many potholes does it fill?
The council estimates that 9,715 potholes were filled in 2024/25.
How quickly are potholes dealt with?
Island Roads says reported potholes are inspected by its teams to assess the level of risk, with repairs carried out within set timescales based on that assessment. The company says roads are also inspected regularly — monthly, quarterly or annually depending on road type — to identify defects.
How can people report potholes?
Potholes on the Isle of Wight can be reported to the council via an online reporting system.
Jane HodgsonDORSET
Who is responsible?
In Dorset, responsibility for potholes sits with two unitary authorities: Dorset Council, which covers most of the county, and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, which is responsible for roads in those areas.
National Highways is responsible for motorways and major A-roads in the county, including the A31 and A35.
How much money is spent on fixing potholes?
Pothole repairs are funded through councils' wider highways maintenance budgets.
Dorset Council says its total highways maintenance spending was around £25.2m in 2024/25, rising to around £32.6m in 2025/26, covering planned maintenance and reactive repairs including potholes.
BCP Council says it spent around £8.6m on highways maintenance in 2024/25, with around £9.6m projected for 2025/26.
How many potholes does it fill?
Dorset Council said it repaired 10,725 potholes in 2024/25.
BCP Council said it repaired 3,300 potholes in 2024/25.
How quickly are potholes dealt with?
Dorset Council said potholes are prioritised based on location, size, depth and road type. The council aims to repair the highest-risk potholes within 32 hours, and lower-risk defects within 28 days, making every effort to complete the majority of repairs within that timeframe.
BCP Council said the average time from first report to repair is now under 10 days, and has more than halved over the past five years.
How can people report potholes?
In Dorset, potholes can be reported via the council's website. BCP Council asks residents to report potholes and other highway problems through its online reporting system.
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
National Highways is responsible for England's Strategic Road Network, which includes motorways and major A-roads such as the M4, M3, M40 and A34.
A spokesperson said 96.2% of motorways and major A-roads are currently in good condition, a national target the organisation says it has met for the past seven years.
National Highways says it carries out annual road condition surveys across its entire network, alongside daily safety inspections on motorways.
The most serious potholes and defects are aimed to be repaired within 24 hours, with permanent repairs typically completed within 28 days.
The organisation says almost £2bn is being spent resurfacing the strategic road network during the current funding period, with a proportion of that used for routine maintenance including pothole repairs.
Members of the public can report potholes and other defects on National Highways roads through its online reporting system or by contacting its customer contact centre.
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