When Is a Pothole Not a Pothole? East Sussex Highways Explains

East Sussex Highways has clarified the difference between general road surface damage and what legally counts as a pothole, stressing that not all visible defects on highways meet the criteria for pothole repairs.

A spokesperson explained: “Some areas of the road may look messy, but not everything on the highway classifies as a ‘pothole’.

” The distinction lies in the nature of the damage. When the top layer of the road surface begins to peel or flake, this condition—known as delamination—can resemble rough tarmac but isn’t technically a pothole.

According to the spokesperson, “It looks a bit like the road is flaking, not a hole forming. This doesn’t always turn into a pothole and doesn’t automatically meet our published intervention levels for immediate repair.”

How big is the pothole problem across the UK?

Nationwide figures show the UK’s roads are grappling with a significant pothole issue:

• Estimated scale: Motoring groups like the RAC suggest there are more than one million potholes on English and Welsh roads at any given time, with roughly six potholes per mile on council-controlled roads.

• Annual reports: Recent analysis found nearly 952,000 pothole reports were made to UK councils between January and November 2024—one of the highest totals in five years.

• Long-term figures: Between 2022 and 2023, councils in England and Wales filled around 1.4 million potholes, though this was down from about 1.7 million the year before.

• Government response: The UK government has pledged to increase funding for local road maintenance, including injections of cash expected to support the filling of millions more potholes in coming years.

  
  

Why does this matter?

Potholes aren’t just a surface-level nuisance—they can lead to serious vehicle damage and safety risks. Breakdown and motoring organisations routinely record tens of thousands of pothole-related incidents annually, with motorists facing substantial repair costs after tyre, wheel, or suspension damage.

Understanding what constitutes an official pothole, versus other forms of road degradation like delamination, helps explain why some surface damage isn’t immediately fixed—and highlights the importance of both proper classification and adequate investment in highway maintenance.