There is no nationally agreed definition of a pothole, and many road users regard surface defects of any size or shape as potholes. In North East Lincolnshire, a pothole is defined as a carriageway defect that is at least 40mm deep and extends more than 300mm in length. Potholes commonly form when water enters small cracks in the road surface, freezes and expands, weakening the material. As vehicles pass over these weakened areas, the surface can break down further, particularly on older roads. Repairs are mainly identified through routine safety inspections and prioritised using a dynamic on-site risk assessment. This considers factors such as the defect’s size and depth, its location, and the road’s speed limit. Repair timescales range from 24 hours to up to three working months, depending on the level of risk, although repairs are completed sooner where possible.

What we are doing to tackle potholes?

Through delivery of the Council’s Highway Inspection and Maintenance Policy during financial year 2025-26, a total of 1082 pothole repairs were completed in North East Lincolnshire. It should be noted that a single repair may include one or more potholes. Repairs are prioritised based on the assessed risk presented by each defect, and permanent repairs are programmed where it is safe and practical to do so. However, in some circumstances, a temporary repair may be necessary where completing a permanent repair would conflict with other network activities or create a risk to public safety. Temporary repairs are used as a short-term measure, with a permanent repair scheduled as soon as practicable thereafter. While there will inevitably always be a need for reactive maintenance to ensure the highway is maintained in a safe condition, North East Lincolnshire Council applies an asset management approach to highway maintenance. This means funding is focused on preventative maintenance, informed by asset management plans and based on a risk-based, whole-life approach, which helps reduce the need for more costly emergency repairs. Preventative maintenance treatments, including annual programmes of surface dressing and micro surfacing, are delivered across North East Lincolnshire, and future programmes will also trial asphalt rejuvenation treatments. These treatments help seal the road surface against water ingress, reducing the rate of deterioration, pothole formation and the need for repeat visits to the same locations.

How members of public can report potholes and other highway defects

The public can submit reports of potholes and other highway defects to North East Lincolnshire Council via an online reporting system or via telephone call to the council’s switchboard on 01472 313131 . The online form enables residents to provide details of the location and type of defect so it can be assessed and prioritised. Report an issue

What happens after a pothole is reported

Upon receipt of a report regarding a highway defect the location will be inspected by a highways officer. The response time for the inspection ranges from 24 hours to 3 days dependent on the priority of the report. The inspection will follow the same principles of cyclic inspections, which are designed to identify all defects likely to create danger or serious inconvenience to users of the network or the wider community. Such defects include those that will require urgent attention (within 24 hours) as well as those where the locations and sizes of the defect are such that longer periods of response would be acceptable.