A prestigious West London borough has expressed its bewilderment after being branded one of England's worst performers for pothole management in an official government report.
Council Confidence Clashes with Government Data
The Department for Transport (DfT) has published a nationwide assessment of road conditions, rating every local authority as green, amber, or red. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea was one of only 11 councils across England to receive the worst possible 'red' rating. This places it among eight London boroughs criticised for poor pothole maintenance.
However, Kensington and Chelsea Council has strongly contested the findings. A council spokesperson stated they are "relatively confident" the negative score is a mistake. They pointed to a recent letter from junior transport minister Simon Lightwood, which commended the authority for its adherence to new reporting rules introduced in 2025.
Local Leaders Demand an Explanation
Councilor Johnny Thalassites was more forthright in his criticism. "It is baffling how the Government has come up with this rating and disappointing that they have published it without showing us their workings out," he said.
Thalassites defended the borough's record, highlighting a substantial investment in infrastructure. "We spent around £4.5 million on road maintenance last year," he stated, adding that major streetscape improvements are ongoing. Most compellingly, he cited the council's own November 2025 residents' survey, in which 73% of respondents expressed satisfaction with road maintenance—a figure 24% higher than the London average.
"I will be asking for an urgent explanation on how the Government has come up with this rating," Thalassites concluded.
Other Boroughs Join the Dispute
Kensington and Chelsea is not alone in challenging the DfT's report. Waltham Forest and Greenwich councils, which also received 'red' ratings, have similarly pushed back.
Waltham Forest's Deputy Leader, Clyde Loakes, told local media he was "incredibly disappointed". He argued that the council allocates 60% of its highways budget to preventative work and noted independent research ranking the borough in the top three for speed of pothole repairs.
In Greenwich, Councilor Calum O'Byrne raised concerns about the report's methodology. He said it failed to account for the borough's £8 million investment plan for roads and pavements over the next five years, as well as separate spending on winter gritting, street lighting, and bridges.
The government report was published alongside the announcement that £7.3 billion in total will be spent on road improvements across England this year.
The eight London councils given a 'red' rating for potholes are:
- Bromley
- Kensington and Chelsea
- Kingston upon Thames
- Merton
- Richmond upon Thames
- Sutton
- Waltham Forest
- Wandsworth
