Roads, transport and parking

Your council looks after most roads, pavements and street lights, runs parking enforcement and car parks, and deals with Blue Badges, bus passes and school transport. Motorways and trunk roads are the Welsh Government’s responsibility and are looked after by its trunk road agents.

Who runs this service

Some parts of this service are run by other organisations:

Welsh Government trunk road agents

The North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent and the South Wales Trunk Road Agent look after motorways and trunk roads for the Welsh Government. Traffic Wales takes reports about them. Source: Welsh Government trunk road agents

Getting urgent help

Problem on a motorway or trunk road

Traffic Wales takes reports about the Welsh Government’s motorways and trunk roads. Calls in Welsh are welcome. Source: Problem on a motorway or trunk road

Telephone: 0300 123 1213

More information about Problem on a motorway or trunk road

Your rights

The duty to maintain the road

The highway authority has a duty to maintain highways that are maintainable at public expense. It must also do what is reasonably practicable to make sure safe passage is not endangered by snow or ice. Source: The duty to maintain the road

Claiming for damage is not automatic

If you claim for damage caused by a road defect, the authority has a defence if it can show it took such care as was reasonably required to make sure the road was not dangerous. Courts look at things like how often the road was inspected and whether the authority knew about the defect. Source: Claiming for damage is not automatic

Report potholes and street lights to the council

Report potholes and street light faults to your council. Councils are responsible for installing and maintaining street lighting. Source: Report potholes and street lights to the council

Challenging a parking ticket has set stages

You have 28 days to challenge a penalty charge notice. If you challenge within 14 days and the challenge is rejected, you may still pay the reduced amount. If it is rejected you get a notice to owner, then 28 days to make a formal representation, and a notice of rejection gives you 28 days to pay or appeal. Source: Challenging a parking ticket has set stages

Blue Badges are free in Wales

Your council decides Blue Badge applications and usually makes a decision within 12 weeks. Badges are free in Wales. If you are refused, you can ask the council to look again if you think important information was not taken into account. Source: Blue Badges are free in Wales

Free school transport distances

Local authorities must make free travel arrangements for learners who live 2 miles or more from their primary school, or 3 miles or more from their secondary school. They cannot charge the child or parent for those arrangements. Source: Free school transport distances

How to complain

1. Report the fault and keep the reference

   Report the pothole, street light or other fault to the council and note the reference number and date. This record matters if you later make a claim or complaint. Source: Report the fault and keep the reference

2. Use the right route for a parking ticket

   Do not use the complaints procedure to challenge a penalty charge notice. Use the formal challenge and representation stages instead, because they protect your right to appeal to the tribunal. Source: Use the right route for a parking ticket

   Time limit: Challenge within 14 days to keep any discount; 28 days for a formal representation

3. Complain to the council, then ask for its final response

   If the service itself was poor, for example long delays or no reply, use the council’s complaints procedure and ask for its final reply in writing. Source: Complain to the council, then ask for its final response

If you are still unhappy

Traffic Penalty Tribunal

Independent adjudicators decide appeals about council penalty charge notices issued in Wales and in England outside London. If your appeal succeeds the ticket is cancelled and you pay nothing. Source: Traffic Penalty Tribunal

When: After the council has sent you a notice of rejection of your formal representation.

Time limit: 28 days from the notice

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

Looks at complaints that a council handled something badly, such as repeated failures to repair a reported defect, or poor handling of a school transport or Blue Badge decision. Source: Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

When: After you have complained to the council and had its final response.

Time limit: Normally within 12 months of the day you first knew about the matter

Telephone: 0300 790 0203

Traffic Wales

The contact point for the Welsh Government’s motorways and trunk roads, which councils do not maintain. Source: Traffic Wales

When: If the problem is on a motorway or trunk road rather than a council road.

Telephone: 0300 123 1213

Free, independent advice

Welsh Government: apply for a bus pass

Free bus travel for people aged 60 or over, disabled people and injured service personnel. Passes are issued through Transport for Wales. Source: Welsh Government: apply for a bus pass

GOV.UK: apply for a Blue Badge

The online application used in Wales, plus who can get a badge and what to do if you are refused. Source: GOV.UK: apply for a Blue Badge

GOV.UK: report a pothole

Finds the right council to report a pothole to in England and Wales. Source: GOV.UK: report a pothole