Cumberland Council, which repaired over 32,500 potholes in 12 months, has revealed that it could spend up to
£40.4 million on the area’s infrastructure this financial year.
It has published its first Highways Maintenance Transparency Report, which allows people more insight into how it looks after the 3,741km of roads it is responsible for, reports Cumbria Crack. An estimated 32,541 potholes were across the network during the 2025-2026 financial year.
This included 22,779 permanent repairs costing an average of £123 each and 9,762 temporary fixes at an average of £98 each.
In-house council teams now deliver 80 per cent of pothole repairs, the report said, with 20 per cent completed by specialist contractors using thermal and spray-injection techniques.
The report reveals that the council refuses volume-based rewards for contractors, instead using a right first time policy, which requires any failed repairs to be redone at the contractor’s own expense.
The report said £40.4 million will be spent in the 2026-2027 financial year, up from £23.5 million in the 2024-2025 financial year. The report said it would modernise infrastructure and support planned preventative repairs.
The growth in total spending is almost entirely driven by an increase in central government funding, it added.
The lion’s share of the cash will come from the Government and the Department for Transport – a projected £36,672,999.
Out of the projected £40.4m budget, direct asset allocations include £23,947,994 for roads and carriageways and £5,008,991 for bridges and structures.
Drainage systems will receive £1.5 million, pavements £1,226,100 and street lighting £476,000.
The report said preventative surface treatments were projected to expand from 67km in 2025/26 to 72.4km in 2026/27, while planned structural maintenance will increase from 21km to 33.7km.
The authority added that 70 per cent of its drainage spending will be allocated to proactive maintenance to protect roads against heavy rainfall.
Cumberland Council is also responsible for the maintenance of 1,929km of pavements, 675km of cycleways, and 3,067km of public rights of way – with 1,397km managed by the Lake District National Park Authority.
(Picture: Kevin Borras/Highways News)
