Potholes and road damage

When you report a pothole it is inspected within 3 working days and a repair will be planned in as set out in our Highway Safety Inspection Manual.

Please give us as much information as possible that will help our inspector find the pothole or road defect. The more information you give us, the easier it will be for us to find. Please tell us:

• Your name and phone number, in case we need to contact you
• Where the pothole or road defect is, including postcode, road name and parish
• Is the pothole or defect outside a specific property, for example outside Number 4, or near lamp column number 27

Read more about potholes and road damage

Flooding on the road

We are responsible for keeping roads and pavements free of flooding that might cause a hazard or an obstruction to road users. We have a duty to keep the road network free from obstruction and safe for all to use.

We are not responsible for preventing flooding to private property; that is the owner’s responsibility, unless the situation is the result of something we have unreasonably done or not done.

When you contact us, please give us the following information:

• Your name and phone number
• Where the flooding is
• Whether it is outside a specific property or address

Read more about flooding on the road

Drains and gullies

We operate a planned maintenance programme for cleaning highway surface water drains on all the roads we maintain. Where defects or flooding are identified, outside the planned programme, these will be dealt with as necessary.

When you contact us to report a blocked drain, please provide the following information:

• Your name and phone number, in case we need to contact you
• Where the drain is, including the road name and area
• If it is outside a specific property

Read more about drains and gullies

Hazard on the road

We work with the police and other agencies like specialist waste contractors and the Environment Agency to remove hazards on the road. Examples of hazards can include a tree branch, hazardous waste, traffic cones, a blown tyre or dumped rubbish.

When you contact us, please give us the following information:

• the road name
• whether it is outside a specific property
• whether it is in the road or on the footway
• whether it is hazardous waste, and if so, what it is
• whether it is near a watercourse (for example, a river or stream) or a drain

Read more about hazards on the road

Mud on the road

You can report mud here. For the latest information about floods and other adverse weather conditions affecting roads in Somerset, please visit the roadworks travel page.

When you contact us, please give us the following information:

• Your name and phone number
• Where the mud is
• Whether it is outside a specific property or address
• Do you know who put it there, for example, the landowner or a company name?

Read more about mud on the road

Pavements and cycle paths

When you report a defect in a footway or cycle path, we will inspect it within 3 working days. The repair response time will depend on the type of defect you have reported and where it is. The repair will be in accordance with our Highway Safety Inspection Manual.

When you contact us please give us the following information:

• Your name and phone number, in case we need to contact you
• Where the problem is, including the road name and town or village
• Why you are reporting it

Read more about pavements and cycle paths

Report a problem with a street light

You can report a faulty streetlight using our form. When you contact us, please give the following information:

• Your name and phone number, in case we need to contact you
• The number on the street light column
• Where the street light is, including the road name and area
• Whether the street light is outside a specific property

The form has 2 pages and should take 1 to 2 minutes to complete.

Snow and ice on the road

We are responsible for highway winter service in Somerset, except for the M5, A303 and A36. We have a precautionary salting network, which covers key routes across the county. For the latest information about bad weather affecting roads in Somerset, please visit the Travel Somerset website. You can find information on our services during bad weather here.

When you contact us please tell us:

• what the problem is
• exactly where the problem is
• your name and address, in case we need to contact you
• whether or not the road is usually salted, if you know

Read more about snow and ice

Traffic light fault

When you report faulty traffic lights, we will investigate your report as soon as possible and take appropriate action to make it safe. Our contractor will attend the site within 24 hours.

When you contact us please give us the following information:

• Your name and phone number, in case we need to contact you
• The date and time you noticed the problem
• The location, including the road name or junction
• Whether the traffic lights are permanent or temporary
• Note the exact details of the fault, for example: ‘the green man isn’t working outside the school’

Read more about traffic lights

Harmful or poisonous weeds

Under the Noxious Weeds Act 1959 we are responsible for controlling certain noxious weeds, including ragwort. When you report noxious weeds, we will make sure they are dealt with in the appropriate manner.

When you contact us, please give us the following information:

• Your name, address and phone number in case we need to contact you
• The location of the weeds. including the road name and parish
• The type of weed (if you know)

Read more about weeds

Bridges and retaining walls

When you report an incident, we will assess the severity and assign an inspector. If we are not responsible for the structure, we will pass the report to the appropriate owner. We will make the site safe and respond in accordance with the inspector’s recommendations.

When you contact us please provide:

• Your name and phone number, in case we need to contact you
• Structure type – such as subway, retaining wall, railway bridge
• Incident type or cause – such as vehicular, vandalism, water flow
• Severity or nature such as road blocked, debris, cracks

Read more about bridges and retaining walls

Vehicle parked on a grass verge

What we will do depends on the nature of the obstruction.

We control the unauthorised use of signs, goods or stones displayed on highway verges, to ensure the safety of the travelling public.

When you contact us, please give us the following information:

• Your name and phone number
• The location of the sign, goods or stones, including the road name
• If it is outside a specific property

Unauthorised use of a roadside verge

We respond to information received and inspections undertaken. We will remove any obstructions that are found to be a hazard to highway users as defined by our policy. We also investigate the placing of unauthorised hedges, fences or structures on the highway verge.

When you contact us, please give us the following information:

Your name and phone number, in case we need to contact you
The name of the road or junction
Whether the location is usually cut by us, if you know

Read more about road or verge obstructions

Overgrown verge or hedge

During the growing season, we carry out a number of environmental maintenance operations to help keep all road users safe.

When you contact us, please give us the following information:

• Your name and phone number, in case we need to contact you
• The name of the road or junction
• Whether the location is usually cut by us if you know

Read more about hedges and verges

Abandoned vehicles

It is an offence to abandon a motor vehicle or vehicle parts on any open land, or on any land that is part of the highway. This could mean a fine of up to £2,500 or a three-month prison sentence.

Before you report an abandoned vehicle, check that it doesn’t belong to a neighbour, or someone visiting a neighbour or a local business.

Flyposting and graffiti

Depending on the nature and location of the signs and graffiti, we will either remove or if we know who it is, ask the person responsible to remove them. Unless the graffiti is deemed to be offensive or obscene it will be removed in line with routine refurbishment or as and when resources will allow.

When you contact us, please provide:

• Your name and phone number, in case we need to contact you
• What the problem is
• Where the problem is

Report a problem with a tree by the road

We are responsible for the maintenance of 6500kms of road network. Many of these roads have associated land or verges which, in the majority of cases, also belong to us. Any trees situated in these areas are our responsibility.

If you want to report that a tree or branch has fallen onto the road and is causing a hazard, use the button below.

Read more about trees by the road

Road signs and bollards

We maintain and repair road signs and bollards to national standards, to provide safe access for all road users.

Problems with road signs can include:

• Missing sign plates
• Plates turned around or slipped on the post
• Signs obscured by hedges
• Trees or dirt obscuring signs on A and B roads

Read more about road signs and bollards

Road markings

We put markings on the road, such as ‘give way’ markings, school ‘keep clears’ and bus stop markings, to make them safe for everyone.

Contact us to report road markings that are unclear, damaged or missing reflective road studs, or to request new road markings.

Read more about road markings

Anything else

You can ask us a question about anything not on this list here. When you contact us please provide the following information (if available):

• Your name and phone number, in case we need to contact you
• Whether your problem relates to a specific location