The assets we maintain
Westmorland and Furness Council is responsible for maintaining:
- 4,344km of roads
- 1,431km of footways
- 2,108km of public rights of way
- 889km of cycleways
We also maintain:
- bridges
- drainage systems
- street lighting
- traffic signals
- road signs
- street furniture
Read more information about how we maintain roads and paths in our area
Our approach
The highway network is our most valuable asset. It helps people, businesses and visitors travel across Westmorland and Furness.
Maintaining the network is challenging because of:
- ageing infrastructure
- limited funding
- seasonal increases in traffic
- more frequent extreme weather events
We use a risk-based approach to manage and maintain the network, prioritising investment where it is needed most.
Road conditions
We use road condition surveys to assess the state of our roads. The results are grouped into three categories:
- Green, meaning the road is in good condition and no further investigation or treatment is required
- Amber, meaning the road may need maintenance soon
- Red, meaning the road is in poor condition and should be considered for maintenance
The condition of A roads
| Year | Percentage of road in red category | Percentage of road in amber category | Percentage of road in green category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.8% | 25.7% | 70.5% |
| 2024 | 4.5% | 27.8% | 67.7% |
| 2025 | 3.8% | 26.8% | 69.4% |
The condition of B and C roads
| Year | Percentage of road in red category | Percentage of road in amber category | Percentage of road in green category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12% | 38.9% | 49.1% |
| 2024 | 10.2% | 38.3% | 51.5% |
| 2025 | 11.2% | 38.6% | 50.2% |
The condition of U roads
| Year | Percentage of road in red category |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 24.8% |
| 2024 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 26% |
Additional information on road condition
We use SCANNER surveys on classified roads, while AI-enabled surveys and highway inspections help us monitor the wider network.
This information is combined with engineering assessments, safety inspection data and local knowledge to support maintenance decisions.
Our extensive rural road network is affected by severe weather, agricultural traffic and seasonal visitor demand. Because of this, we use a risk-based approach to prioritise investment where it is needed the most.
During 2025 to 2026, we invested £1.3 million improving the condition of unclassified roads. As well as wider investment in preventative maintenance treatments.
Our focus on preventative maintenance helps to:
- address deterioration before extensive repairs are needed
- extend asset life
- improve resilience
- reduce the need for more costly repairs in the future
What we are doing about potholes and other road defects
Our definition of a pothole
A pothole is a localised failure of the road surface where material has broken away, creating a depression in the road. Potholes can vary in size and shape. They usually develop over time because of traffic loading, water entering the road surface, weather conditions and the gradual deterioration of the road.
Westmorland and Furness Council manages road defects using a risk-based approach. We assess defects by considering factors such as their depth, location, road hierarchy, traffic levels and how the road is used.
As a guide, we normally investigate road defects when they are more than 40mm deep. On minor rural roads, the investigatory level is typically 60mm deep.
These thresholds do not automatically trigger a repair. When a defect meets or exceeds the investigatory level, we assess the risk it presents and decide whether remedial action is needed. We also determine the most appropriate response timescale.
How we're tackling potholes
We use a combination of preventative maintenance and reactive repairs to manage potholes across the highway network. Each year, we repair more than 20,000 potholes to help keep roads safe and serviceable for residents, businesses and visitors.
More defects are addressed through planned maintenance and resurfacing programmes before they develop into potholes.
Preventative maintenance is our main focus. We use asset management principles and apply treatments such as surface dressing, preservation treatments, resurfacing and other targeted interventions at the right time.
We select these treatments using condition surveys, lifecycle planning, engineering assessments and local knowledge to address deterioration before significant defects develop.
By applying the right treatment at the right time, we can:
- extend the life of highway assets
- maintain network condition
- improve resilience
- reduce the future occurrence of potholes
We also operate a risk-based inspection regime to identify and assess defects. When we assess defects, we consider factors such as their characteristics, road hierarchy, traffic levels and how the road is used.
Where repairs are needed, we prioritise them according to risk. Wherever practicable, we complete permanent repairs on the first visit. We may use temporary repairs to make the highway safe until we can carry out a permanent repair.
Through this balanced approach, we aim to minimise pothole formation while maintaining a safe and resilient highway network.
How members of the public can report potholes and other highway defects
Members of the public can report potholes and other highway defects through a range of channels, including:
- the Council's online reporting system
- Customer Contact Centre
- approved third-party websites and mobile applications
We record all reports in the Council's Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and assess them to determine whether further investigation is needed. We then risk assess, categorise and prioritise defects in line with the Council's inspection and maintenance policies.
This risk-based approach ensures that defects presenting the greatest risk to highway users receive the most urgent attention. It also helps us use resources effectively and apply appropriate response times.
What happens after a pothole is reported
When someone reports a pothole, we first assess whether it is an emergency.
If the pothole is an emergency, we immediately refer it to the Duty Engineer. They deploy a response team to make the site safe within two hours. We then programme any further repairs separately.
If the pothole is not an emergency, a Highways Inspector assesses it. If the pothole requires action, we assign a response time and pass it to the delivery team for scheduling and repair.
If the pothole does not require action, we continue to monitor it and advise the customer accordingly.
Once we complete any repairs, we update the CRM system and inform the member of the public.
Highway maintenance funding and spending
What we spend on maintaining the highways
Our total spend on highways maintenance includes:
- £42,447,126 in 2024 to 2025
- £55,383,658 in 2025 to 2026
- £59,881,350 is projected to be spent in 2026 to 2027
| Highways infrastructure | 2024 to 2025 | 2025 to 2026 | Projected 2026 to 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roads | £31,864,353 | £38,772,096 | £44,165,423 |
| Pavements | £1,316,692 | £1,799,437 | £2,970,000 |
| Structures, such as bridges or tunnels | £2,944,538 | £3,441,707 | £4,914,771 |
| Drainage | £3,095,676 | £3,900,100 | £2,532,660 |
| Street lighting | £2,275,709 | £3,486,790 | £3,142,967 |
| Other assets | £2,950,158 | £3,580,150 | £2,155,529 |
How we fund highway maintenance
| Funding source | 2024 to 2025 | 2025 to 2026 | Projected 2026 to 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funding received through the Department for Transport or UK Government | £29,318,804 | £54,944,226 | £43,509,229 |
| Additional highways maintenance funding provided by the Council or third parties (if applicable) | £9,386,782 | £10,333,362 | £9,936,350 |
| Total | £38,705,586 | £65,277,588 | £53,445,579 |
Funding levels vary from year to year due to the timing of major projects and external funding allocations.
The higher funding levels in 2025 to 2026 were largely due to the delivery of the A595 Grizebeck Improvement Scheme and other externally funded programmes.
The projected reduction in 2026 to 2027 reflects the completion of these one-off investments. It does not represent a reduction in core highway maintenance activity.
Our maintenance plans for this year
We plan to invest around £53 million in highways maintenance during 2026 to 2027 to improve the condition, safety and resilience of the network.
The programme includes:
- road resurfacing
- preventative treatments, such as surface dressing
- ongoing pothole repairs
These activities help extend the life of highway assets and reduce future deterioration.
We will also make targeted investments in highway structures, drainage assets and resilience measures. This will help the network cope with increasing traffic demands and severe weather events.
We develop maintenance programmes using highway condition data, risk assessments and network priorities. This helps us target funding where it will deliver the greatest benefit.
We also retain flexibility within our programme so we can respond to emergencies and weather-related damage. This helps us keep the network safe and operational for all users.
Download our Highway Asset Management Strategy (PDF , 7.8MB)
View a full list of planned road and pavement works
How we make decisions about our maintenance plans
We develop highway maintenance programmes using an evidence-led asset management approach.
We use a range of information to help us make decisions, including:
- highway condition data
- safety inspection findings
- lifecycle plans
- customer reports
- risk assessments
- local engineering knowledge
We prioritise works that provide the greatest whole-life value, improve safety and maintain network resilience.
Where appropriate, we prioritise preventative maintenance to extend the life of highway assets and reduce the need for more costly repairs in the future.
When developing annual works programmes, we also consider:
- environmental impacts
- road hierarchy
- traffic volumes
- impacts on local communities
The Highways Senior Management Team reviews and approves maintenance programmes. We then present them to Cabinet Members for review and approval before delivery. This provides both professional and democratic oversight of investment decisions.