Highways maintenance transparency report 2026

In this section

  1. What we spent to maintain the highway network and where the funding is coming from
  2. How we maintain local roads, pavements, and the wider highway network in Stoke-on-Trent
  3. Our maintenance plans for this year
  4. Transparency report – Technical Annex template
  5. Maintaining footways and cycleways
  6. Drainage
  7. Skills and training
  8. Adapting roads to withstand climate pressures
  9. Innovation
  10. Working with utility companies to reduce disruption to road users
  11. Managing highways maintenance contracts effectively

Maintaining footways and cycleways

  1.  

Question

Answer

  1.  

Do you have a defined footway hierarchy (e.g. based on footway function and usage levels) that underpins a risk‑based approach to inspection frequencies and maintenance programmes?

Yes

  1.  

For 2026-27, please provide the length of footways that you have earmarked for structural maintenance / reconstruction / renewal

in 2 km
  1.  

For 2026-27, please provide the length of footways that you have earmarked for preventative maintenance treatments

In 4 km
  1.  

Are priority footways and cycleways included in your winter service (e.g. gritting or snow clearance), and in a routine programme for keeping them clear of overgrown vegetation and debris (e.g. sweeping, cutting back)?

Yes pedestrian areas in town centre
  1.  

For 2026-27, are you planning to deliver structural or preventative maintenance to cycleways which is not yet covered as part of your carriageway maintenance programmes or footway maintenance programmes (e.g. segregated cycleways that are not shared with pedestrians or motorists). If yes, please set out the length of such cycleways that you have earmarked for:

Yes

 
  1. Structural maintenance / reconstruction (in km)

1 km

 
  1. Preventative maintenance treatments (in km)
  1.  

 

Stoke-on-Trent City Council adopts a risk-based, asset management-led approach to maintaining footways and cycleways. A defined footway hierarchy is used to determine inspection frequencies, maintenance priorities and investment decisions, ensuring that the busiest pedestrian routes and locations of highest strategic importance receive appropriate levels of service.

Footway and cycleway maintenance programmes are informed by condition surveys, safety inspections, customer reports and lifecycle planning principles. Where possible, the Council prioritises preventative maintenance treatments to extend asset life, improve network condition and reduce the need for more costly reconstruction works in the future.

Priority footways and shared-use routes form part of the Council's winter maintenance and routine cleansing programmes, helping to ensure they remain safe, accessible and free from excessive vegetation, debris and other obstructions.

Through our LCWIP (Local Cycling and Walking improvement programme) we will maintain and upgrade to LT120 1 KM of Cycleways

Evidence Summary

The Council is also committed to innovation and sustainable highway solutions. One recent initiative involves replacing grass verges that have been repeatedly damaged by vehicle overrun and informal parking with permeable block paving. This approach provides durable off-carriageway parking while allowing surface water to infiltrate naturally into the ground, helping to reduce maintenance costs, improve appearance and support wider climate resilience and sustainable drainage objectives.

This balanced approach enables the Council to maximise the value of available funding while maintaining safe and accessible routes for pedestrians and cyclists across the city.

Road and pavemebt