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Potholes

A pothole is where the surface of the road  or pavement / footway has been eroded and a hollow has formed. The Council, as Highway Authority, has responsibility for the maintenance and repair of the adopted Highway areas.

The severity of the pothole and, therefore, the criteria for attention is determined by the risk it poses to all road users. This is difficult to judge since all potholes potentially 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 usage.

Bournemouth Borough Council's road network is inspected and maintained in accordance with the recommendations of the Best Value Code of Practice for Highway Maintenance Management and our own Code of Practice for Highway Inspection , with inspection frequencies varying from two to twelve times per year, depending on the national classification of the road and its level of usage.

Pothole defects are logged for repair on the decision of an inspector, who works to the standards set by the Code of Practice, using skill and judgement in this process.

Where a pothole is noted for Category 1 repair, this is required to be made safe and temporarily repaired within 24 hours of first inspection, then maintained in a safe condition until a permanent repair is completed. All other defects are repaired under programmed routine maintenance.

Trip Hazards

Trip hazards are a key concern at all times, whilst the problems of weeds, standing water and ice tend to be more seasonal. Trip hazards and other defects are inspected and repaired in the same way as potholes.

Highway Inspection Category 1 Defect Guidelines 

Carriageway

 

Potholes in excess of 40mm deep

Depressions or ridges in excess of 40mm over 1000mm

Vertical faces in excess of 40mm

Illegal obstructions which reduce the carriageway width.

 

Footway

Potholes in excess of 20mm deep.
Depressions or ridges in excess of 40mm over 1000mm.
Depressions or ridges in excess of 25mm over 600mm
Cracks or gaps in excess of 20mm wide.
Loose or rocking paving slabs in excess of +/-20mm.
Standing water in excess of 20mm deep that restricts the footway width to less than 1000mm.
Illegal obstruction reducing the footway width to less than 1000mm

 

Covers, Gratings & Frames

Worn covers that could cause skidding
Missing covers
Difference in level in excess of +/-20mm.
Loose or rocking items with movement in excess of 20mm.

Kerbs, Edgings & Channels 

  
Vertical projections in excess of 20mm.
Horizontal projections in excess of 50mm
Missing items
Loose or rocking items in excess of +/-20mm in the footway and +/-40mm in the carriageway

 

Drainage

Defective highway gullies, chambers, culverts or pipes which result in standing water over 40mm deep that restricts the width of the carriageway to less than two thirds of its total width.

Fences & Barriers

Missing or defective posts, rails and barriers that could pose a danger to the highway user

 

Verges, Hedges & Trees

Obstructed visibility that could pose a danger to the highway user Overhanging trees or vegetation that could pose a danger to the highway user

 

Road Studs

Missing or defective road studs

 

Road Markings

Road markings with dimensions reduced by more than 20%.

 

Highway Signs

Missing or defective posts, signs and fixings that could pose a danger to the highway user. Headroom less than 2300 & 5200mm over pedestrian and vehicular areas respectively.
Sign face within 450mm of the edge of carriageway. 

The adopted highway network is logged on a computerised map information system that is available for inspection by appointment at the Council Offices using the contact details below.

Many paths, particularly serving the beaches in Bournemouth, are not part of the adopted highway network and these are logged on a computerised map information system that is available for inspection by appointment at the Council Offices using the contact details below.

How can you help us?

In the case of your witnessing damage to any highway area, pavement or street furniture, it will be of great assistance if you contact us, using the details below, to report the vehicle and damage so that the Council will be able to repair the damage and seek to recover the full cost of repairs from the vehicle owner.

When works are being undertaken on the highway (including the pavement or footway), the organisation carrying out those works, which may include utility companies, is responsible for ensuring there is a safe diversionary route for pedestrians and other traffic and a satisfactory reinstatement.

Trees & Hedges Obstructions

Bournemouth has a large number of trees and heges, both highway and privately owned, that overhang pavements and these should be maintained to the standard as detailed here. For safety purposes, it will sometimes be necessary to close pavements and pathways during pruning works.

Private Streets

A private street is a street that is not maintainable by the Council. Streets that are unadopted are generally in a condition not meeting the standard of adopted streets. These are usually unmade with no bituminous surface.

The responsibility for private streets lies with the street owners. These are usually the people who live on the street.

How to report a private 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 it safe by placing barriers or road closures around the hazard. However, the permanent remedials are then to be carried out by the owner/s.

How to report a problem with gullies and drains on a private street

If thought to be dangerous, for example a missing gully lid, the Council will arrange to make the problem safe and then the owner will need to make permanent remedials.

How to get a private street adopted

To get a street adopted the street must be constructed to adoptable standards. The costs of constructing a street to adoptable standards must be met by the street owners or residents.

The Council 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 use the contact details below.

A Guide to Defects on the Highway

Damage to property or injury to highway users, caused by defects on the highway is very regrettable.  As part of our commitment to you, Bournemouth Borough Council aims to minimise these as far as possible. 

Bournemouth Borough Council, as the highway authority, is required to ensure that its maintainable highways are kept to an appropriate standard.

Regular safety inspections are therefore undertaken at defined frequencies and observed defects made safe within prescribed time periods.

Bournemouth Borough Council also encourages the public to report any potential hazardous defect using the contact details below, which will then be investigated and dealt with as required.

The Law and You

In law, for a claim against a highway authority to succeed, it is necessary for the claimant to prove that:

• The highway in question had not been maintained appropriately and was therefore dangerous
•  This was the direct cause of the incident 

If these can be proved it is for the highway authority to demonstrate that it took all reasonable steps to ensure that the highway was safe.

In practice this means that records of inspections and the repairs carried out form the basis of the authority’s legal defence against any claim.

If you Decide to Claim

If you decide to claim you will need to provide full details in writing of the following:

• Exact location of incident
• Time, date and weather
• Direction of travel, by foot or vehicle
• Detail of damage or injury suffered
• Why you believe Bournemouth Borough Council is responsible for the incident 

For vehicle claims you may also need to provide: 

• Two independent estimates for repair, unless repair was required immediately
• Proof of vehicle ownership
• Copy of current MOT and insurance certificate
• Date of last service
• Any other relevant factors 

When we receive your claim we will:

• Acknowledge receipt, and indicate if we have adequate information to investigate the claim within 21 days
• Produce sufficient evidence to refute the claim, or alternatively accept the claim, within 90 days 

If the incident has occurred as a result of works carried out by a utility company or contractor, then your claim may be against them and not the highway authority.  In this instance, we will advise accordingly.

Should I Claim?

Our road network is one of Bournemouth’s most valuable assets and must be managed and maintained as cost effectively as possible.

Please think carefully before making a claim.  This will help us spend more of your money on actually looking after the roads and keeping them safe.