Roads, Highways and Pavements
- What is the public highway?
- Private Roads/Streets
- How do I report a private Road/Street that is unsafe?
- How do I report a problem with gullies and drains on a private Road/Street?
- How do I get a private road/street adopted?
- What is Highway Maintenance?
- Why does the Council do it?
- Potholes
- Personal injury
What is the public highway?
A highway is a public road or street.
The Council has a responsibility to keep all the public roads and pavements within the borough safe for everyone to use. However, the Council does not own all the roads within the borough. The Council can only maintain ‘adopted’ highways. This is a highway where the Council has taken on the legal responsibility for maintenance.
The Council does not maintain Trunk Roads or Red Routes. These roads are owned by Transport for London (TfL) who has legal responsibilities for their maintenance. You can contact them directly if you would like to report a problem on one of these roads on 0845 305 1234 or www.tfl.gov.uk/streetfaults
Private Roads/Streets
A private road is a road that is not maintained by the Council and is usually unadopted. These roads are generally in a condition not meeting the standard of other adopted roads within the borough. The responsibility for private roads/streets lies with the road owners. These are usually the people who live on the road/street.
How do I report a private Road/Street that is unsafe?
This is usually the responsibility of the owner (usually the frontager). If the problem is thought to be a 'danger' (for example a deep hole in the road suddenly appearing) the Council can arrange to make safe by placing barriers or road closures around the hazard. However, the permanent remedials are then to be carried out by the owner/s. You can contact us on 020 8356 2897 or online via the Roads and pavements defect reporting form.
How do I report a problem with gullies and drains on a private Road/Street?
Online Form: Road drain or gully fault
If thought to be dangerous (for example missing gully lid) the Council will arrange to make the problem safe and then the owner will need to make permanent remedials. You can contact us on 020 8356 2897 or online via the Road drain or gully fault form above.
How do I get a private road/street adopted?
Online Form: Road adoption
To get a road or street adopted the road or street must be constructed to adoptable standards. The costs of constructing a road/street to adoptable standards must be met by the road/street owners/residents.
The Council generally does not have a budget for this and cannot be of any financial help.
If you have any query regarding a footpath or pavement, please contact Highways on 020 8356 2897 or via the Road adoption form above.
What is Highway Maintenance?
Every adopted road and pavement is inspected by a Highways Inspector on a regular basis to identify any problems such as potholes, broken paving slabs, blocked road gullies, etc. which may have occurred since the road was originally constructed or resurfaced or repaved. Individual roads have different timetables for their inspections according the type of road and how much it is used by both vehicles and pedestrians. However, each road is inspected at least once a year.
Also, each year a visual survey is carried out on some of the major roads within the borough. This is the Annual Road Condition Survey. Information gathered from this survey is used to draft the Council’s annual structural maintenance programme.
Why does the Council do it?
Highway Inspections are carried out in order that any potential trip hazards on pavements for pedestrians or hazards to vehicles can be identified and repaired quickly and will not have to wait until the ‘annual road condition survey’ is carried out.
Some examples of a hazard are listed below:
Potholes
Online Form: Roads and pavements defects
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; traffic type, speed and volume; road alignment and visibility and also the position in relation to road width. Potholes can also appear on pavements/footways.
Personal injury
Online Form: Report a fault following an accident
Any hazard in the highway (road or pavement) caused as a result of an accident, damage or vandalism may be considered a risk to the public and could result in personal injury to pedestrians, road users or possible damage to property.
Page updated: 14 Feb 2008