This page explains:
- how we find and assess defects
- what happens after you report a problem
- how we decide what gets fixed first
- what timescales you can expect
If you’ve reported a problem, what happens next?
When you report a road or pavement defect:
- we assess it - one of our trained inspectors visits the location to check the condition and assess any safety risk
- we decide what action is needed - the defect is risk‑assessed using our roads inspection policy. This tells us whether a repair is needed and how quickly it should be done
- we repair it or continue to monitor it:
- safety‑related defects are scheduled for repair within set timescales
- less serious defects are recorded and monitored and may be included in future maintenance work
Not every reported defect will be repaired straight away. This helps us focus limited resources on the most urgent and safety‑critical issues.
How we find road and pavement problems
We identify defects in two ways.
Regular inspections
Our inspectors regularly check roads and pavements across the region. How often inspections take place depends on:
- the type of road or pavement
- how busy it is
Reports from the public
You can report a problem at any time. Public reports help us identify issues that may develop between inspections.
How long repairs usually take
If you provide clear location details, we aim to:
- inspect the issue within 20 working days
- repair safety‑related defects within 60 calendar days, depending on severity and available resources
During busy periods, inspections and repairs may take longer.
How we prioritise repairs
All reported defects are assessed and placed into a priority category.
Repair priority levels
Priority 1 – critical risk
Immediate danger to road users
Repaired within 24 hours
Priority 2 – high risk
Significant safety concerns
Repaired within 5 working days
Priority 3 – medium risk
Noticeable defect but not an immediate hazard
Repaired within up to 60 working days, depending on workload
Priority 4 – low risk
Minor defect with limited impact
No set repair timescale. Please report again if it worsens
Priority 5 – no risk
No action required
Why some reports show as closed
If your report is assessed as lower priority, it may appear as closed on the public reporting system.
This does not mean it has been ignored.
- the issue remains logged in our internal system
- inspectors continue to monitor the location during routine inspections
- if the defect worsens or becomes a safety concern, it will be reassessed
Planned maintenance and resurfacing
Each year, we renew or resurface around 103 miles of roads and pavements across Dumfries and Galloway.
Our maintenance programme:
- is agreed each winter
- starts from April onwards
Requests for resurfacing are considered as part of this annual process rather than through individual defect reports.
Roads we are not responsible for
Some roads are not maintained by the council.
Trunk roads
- A75, A76, A701, A77, A751 – managed by Amey
- A7 – managed by BEAR Scotland
Motorways
- M74 – managed by Autolink
We also do not maintain:
- private roads
- new roads that have not yet been adopted by the council
Utility covers and roadworks
Manhole covers and access points usually belong to utility companies such as Scottish Water, Openreach or Scottish Power.
- we maintain the road surface around them
- problems with the covers themselves are passed to the relevant company
Utility companies must:
- get permits before working on public roads
- reinstate roads to national standards
If repairs do not meet these standards, we require the utility company to fix them.