Cornwall Council is responsible for maintaining the local highway network. This includes roads, footpaths, bridges, streetlights, and other features. As the official highways authority for Cornwall, the Council has a legal duty to keep these roads safe and in good condition.
Why this report matters
The Department for Transport (DfT) sets national transport policy. It also calculates how much funding each council should receive for road maintenance. This is based on factors like road length and the number of assets such as bridges and lighting.
Following recent changes in government policy, all local highways authorities, including Cornwall Council, must now publish detailed information about how they manage and maintain their roads. This helps the public understand how funding decisions are made and how the money is spent.
What the report covers
The full Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025/26 includes:
- How Cornwall Council maintains the road network to support communities, the economy, and public safety.
- The Council’s legal responsibilities and how it carries out inspections, repairs, and long-term planning.
- Efforts to make the network more sustainable and resilient in response to climate change.
- How funding decisions are made and performance is measured.
- Current road conditions and spending figures.
- The shift from short-term fixes to longer-lasting repairs. Using better materials and smarter techniques.
- Strategies to reduce disruption from roadworks and keep traffic flowing.
- Plans for future improvements focused on safety, sustainability, and resilience.
Smarter repairs for better roads
This year, Cornwall Council is using stronger, longer-lasting materials. Along with new repair methods that reduce the need for repeat work. In the future this should mean:
- Fewer potholes
- Less disruption for drivers
- Better value for money
It’s all part of the Council’s plan to make the road network more reliable and ready for the future.
Read the full report
For more detailed information, please refer to the full Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report 2025/26.
Report a highways issue
If you’d like to report a highways issue, you can do so using Cornwall Council’s Report It page.
Local Highways Maintenance Transparency Report
More detailed information can be found on our planned highway maintenance page.
More information on Highways Funding is available on the DfT webpages. Search DfT Highways Funding.