West Berkshire Council receives 'Green' rating for road maintenance

West Berkshire Council has been awarded a 'Green' rating in a new national assessment published by the Department for Transport (DfT), recognising how effectively councils are maintaining and improving their road networks.

The traffic-light ratings are the first of their kind and show how well local authorities are using Government funding to fix roads and prevent potholes. Councils are graded red, amber or green based on road condition, spending on repairs and whether they are following best practice, including long-term preventative maintenance.

Our 'Green' rating places us amongst the top-performing councils in the Country and reflects sustained investment in highways and a focus on keeping roads safer and more reliable for residents.

The announcement comes alongside significant national investment in local roads. This financial year, the Government has made an additional £500 million available for highways maintenance, with a record £7.3 billion committed over the next four years (2026/27 to 2029/30). Over this four-year period, West Berkshire Council will receive £32.5 million in baseline funding and will be eligible for a further £12.1 million in incentive funding, helping to support ongoing improvements.

Cllr Stuart Gourley, Executive Member for Environment and Highways at West Berkshire Council, said:

"This is positive news for West Berkshire and shows that the investment we've made in our roads is delivering results in maintaining and improving our road network for all users. Improving the conditions of our roads is one of our top priorities and being one of three authorities rated overall 'Green' across the three categories of road condition, capital spend and best practice, reflects our commitment to maintaining roads properly for the long-term, rather than short-term fixes.

"This DfT financial provision sits alongside our own council-funded highway maintenance programme, which continues to deliver significant improvements across West Berkshire. In 2025 alone, we repaired 2,498 potholes, cleaned over 20,000 gullies, fixed 648 streetlights and resurfaced more than 63 kilometres of road. Alongside this, we've carried out essential works such as signage cleaning and white line repainting, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to maintaining safer, more reliable roads for residents.

"We know residents want to see these improvements continue, and while Government funding is welcome, we'll continue to work with the DfT for the investment needed to deliver the high-quality road network our communities expect and deserve."

As one of 16 Authorities in England and one of only four in the South East to receive the 'Green' rating, this provides reassurance that funding is being used effectively and supports our continued priority to improve road conditions, reduce disruption and deliver value for money following best practice.