Bedford Borough Council - Highways Helpdesk
For all potholes, faulty lights, signs, traffic signals, etc please contact:-
Online: See below
Telephone: (01234) 718003
E-mail: highways.helpdesk@bedford.gov.uk
Letter: Highways Helpdesk
Bedford Borough Council
Borough Hall
Cauldwell Street
Bedford
MK42 9AP
An online ReportIt tool is available for reporting all highways issues. This allows residents to log the location of an issue on an interactive map of the Borough, with the option to upload a photograph. It is set up to show users if their issue has already been reported, preventing duplication. The system also offers a follow-up service, by emailing updates and any actions taken to users.
The Customer Service Team will respond to issues within 2 working days with a report number where action may be required. Technicians then have the following timescales to inspect the issue and decide the best course of action:
- Potholes* - Large one are normally repaired within 2 working days and smaller ones within 6 weeks from the date of reply.
- Street Lights - Where there is a serious risk of injury (e.g. exposed wiring) faults are normally repaired within 24 hours. Non-emergency faults (inlcluding non-operational street lights) are normally repaired within 10 days from the date of reply.
- For all requests for other non-emergency highway issues, a report will be updated within 7 working days from the date of reply.
* Pothole repairs normally fall into two categories depending upon their severity defined as Category 1 or Category 2.
Category 1 is normally given priority and is defined by Bedford Borough Council as:
Carriageway pothole is any hole in the bituminous surface, with approximately vertical sides, where material has been lost and where any surface dimention in two directions exceeds 150mm and depth exceeds 50mm;
Footway/cycle track damage (bituminous) is any hole in the bituminous surface, with approximately vertical sides, where material has been lost and where any surface dimension in any two directions exceeds 100mm and deph exceeds 20mm;
Footway (slabbed) trip as cracks or gaps, or a difference in the vertical level, between adjacent slabs, or between adjacent slabs and other projections such as manholes, boxes and the like, exceeds 20mm.
Please note for problems in the Central Bedfordshire Highways area the telephone number to call is 0300 300 8049.