A pothole is where the surface of the road has been eroded and a hollow has formed. The Council, as Highway Authority, is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the road surface on all roads in the borough which are public highway, other than the Red Routes. Transport for London is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the Red Routes, including the A2, A20, A21, A205 (South Circular) and the A205.
The severity of the pothole and, therefore, the criteria for attention is determined by the risk it poses to road users. This is difficult to judge since all potholes present some risk. The factors to be taken into account include size and depth of pothole. Potholes can also appear on pavements/footways.
To report a pothole, please use the online Street Fault report form or contact us using the details below.
FAQs
How do I report a pothole, sunken trench or other damage to the road surface?
Please report any defect on our roads by telephone to CallPoint on 020 8314 7171, or use the online Street Fault report form.
Why does the Council not repair all the potholes?
There is a limit as to how effectively we can repair many of the potholes. Potholes of less than 50mm in depth are impossible to repair as the repair material is simply plucked from these shallow depressions by passing traffic. Any repair lasts only days, or at the most weeks before it is broken up and then distributed all over the surrounding road surface, often leaving the road in a worse state than it was before.
How does the Council programme pothole repairs?
All roads in the borough are inspected at least twice annually. Defects deemed to be potentially hazardous by the highway inspectors are repaired within 24 hours. Less serious defects are either scheduled to be repaired within 14 days or are added to the planned maintenance programme.
Is the council responsible for all roads in the borough?
No. Since the formation of the Greater London Assembly in July 2000 management of the capital’s main arterial roads passed to Transport for London (TfL). In the case of Lewisham the following roads are managed by TfL:
- A2
- A20
- A21
- South Circular
- A202.
If you see a street fault on one of TfL's Red Routes, or a faulty traffic signal anywhere in London, please report it to the Street Fault Centre on 0845 305 1234. This is a dedicated 24-hour number at a local rate. If you report a fault on a road that TfL do not manage they will record the details and notify the relevant Highway Authority.
How do I report a footway defect? What is the Council’s inspection regime for footways?
All roads and footways are inspected on a regular basis. The frequency of these inspections is dependent upon their level of use. The inspectors will then prioritise identified works, although budget limitations will mean that some works may be deferred to a future date. However if you are aware of any areas which you consider hazardous and in need of immediate attention, please contact us using the details below or use the online Street Fault report form. Please give a precise location (e.g. an adjacent house number) if you can and the defect will be investigated.
What about maintenance and traffic problems on housing estate roads?
Estate roads are not part of the public highway. They are privately owned - by the housing division. Details of whether a road is maintained by the transport or housing division is contained in the Highway Register. Maintenance of estate roads and traffic and parking issues on them are the responsibility of the housing division. In the first instance we would recommend that you raise any issues you are concerned about with your neighbourhood office.
Can vibrations caused by heavy vehicle traffic result in damage to buildings?
Whilst we recognise that noise and vibration from heavy traffic is a nuisance to you it is in fact very unlikely that any damage would be caused to your property. Vehicle damage to buildings is almost unknown except in cases where the vehicle actually hits the building. The Transport and Road Research Laboratory have established that even in the worst case with respect to ground conditions, type of vehicle and state of loading, structural damage can not be induced further than one metre from the line of the nearest wheel track.
Road works materials have been left on site. Can the Council get them removed?
The Highway Maintenance Group has regular monthly meetings with our contractors and any known instances of materials, barriers or signs being left on site after completion of work are raised at these meetings. At any one time there can be a large number of sites in the borough where works on the carriageway or footway are being carried out. Some of these works may be being carried out by our contractors, whilst others may be the work of one of the Utility companies.
We are grateful to any residents who let us know of instances of materials being left behind, that perhaps the Highway Inspectors have not seen. We can then ensure their prompt removal. If you wish to let us know of any materials left on site please contact us using the details below, or complete the online reporting form.