Spreadsheet Excuses Won’t Fix Potholes

Local Liberal Democrats have criticised North Lincolnshire Council after it blamed its national pothole “red rating” on a “spreadsheet error.”

The Department for Transport’s new roads assessment placed the council in the lowest category overall, after its “spend” score was recorded as zero, despite the council saying it spent around £12 million.

Lib Dem campaigners say residents will be frustrated by the excuses, as many communities continue to face worsening road conditions and repeated potholes.

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said, “Spreadsheet error or not, residents don’t drive on spreadsheets, they drive on roads. And the roads are still full of potholes. This is about trust and competence. If the council can’t report its spending accurately, how can people have confidence it’s being managed and delivered properly? Calling the rating ‘a load of rubbish’ won’t fix a single pothole.”

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the council to publish a street-by-street resurfacing plan, including clear timelines, and to introduce a public performance tracker showing how quickly potholes are being repaired.

They added, “North Lincolnshire has a huge roads network — that’s exactly why residents need transparency, clear priorities, and a plan they can actually see. People are sick of dodging craters, damaged tyres, and the same roads being patched again and again. We need action, not excuses.”