Highways reporting tool planned maintenance notice
Due to an essential IT upgrade, our form for reporting highway issues will be offline from Friday 11 July at 3pm to Monday 14 July 2025. Further information can be found on this webpage. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
This page tells you how to report a highways fault and how to make a claim for personal injury or damage to your vehicle caused by a highway defect.
Report non-dangerous faults
Please report non-dangerous issues with our Highways Reporting Tool. Reports will be assessed within 10 working days. Click the link below to access the tool.
Report dangerous faults
To report a highways fault that poses an immediate danger to the public, please read the guidance on reporting a highways emergency.
Take care
Please do not step out onto a busy highway to measure or photograph the fault you are reporting. Our Local Highways Officers will do this when they investigate your report.
How long does it take to fix a fault
The time taken to fix a fault depends on the type and severity of the issue. Potholes marked with yellow paint will be fixed within 21 days. Potholes marked with white paint will take up to 13 weeks to fix. Our how long does it take to fix a road fault page provides more information on response times.
Highways reporting tool planned maintenance notice
Our highways reporting tool, Report It, will be offline from Friday 11 July at 3pm to Monday 14 July 2025.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding while we carry out this essential work to improve our services.
Why is the system offline?
As part of an essential IT upgrade, the system will be offline as it is moved to a new cloud-based platform. This upgrade is an important step toward improving the speed, reliability, and future capabilities of how we manage your reports.
During this time, you will be unable to report highway issues online, relating to:
- potholes
- damaged signs or roadmarkings
- traffic signals
- damaged manhole and drain covers
- trees affecting roads or footways
- overflowing drains and gullies causing flooding
When will the system be ready to use?
The Highways reporting tool will be back online and fully operational by Monday 14 July 2025.
Reporting an emergency
You can still report a highways emergency during this time. If it is a serious hazard or immediate risk to public safety please use our emergency reporting process.
Damage and personal injury claims
If you think defects on the highway have caused personal injury or damage to your vehicle please review the information below before making a claim. It explains the claims process, highway maintenance and related laws.
The County Council as Highway Authority is responsible for the highway across the County. National Highways (formerly Highways England), not the County Council, is responsible for the maintenance of trunk roads and motorways.
Claim form
Please complete the below Public Liability Claim Form. As a claimant you must supply full details of the incident. This will include:
- the date and time
- a description of exactly where the incident occurred
- photographs of the incident site if available
- details of damage or injury sustained.
Where to send your completed claim form
Please email SharedInsuranceClaims@westnorthants.gov.uk with your completed Public Liability Claim Form together with additional documents (receipts, photographs, expert's reports etc.)
Alternatively, you can post your form and supporting documents using the address below:
Insurance Services
c/o West Northamptonshire Council
The Guildhall
St Giles Square
Northampton
NN1 1ED
Telephone 01604 526276