Utility companies could be better held to account for poor road repairs that cause potholes or dangerous road surfaces in Cumbria.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has today launched a consultation on increasing the guarantee on utility firms’ roadworks, so that if a pothole forms as a result within five years, the company must return to bring the road surface back to normal.

The Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways consultation will propose increasing the minimum guarantee from the current two years to up to five years, and will also introduce new asphalt standards, to keep roads pothole-free for longer.

Mr Grayling said: “Potholes are the biggest enemy for road users and this government is looking at all options to keep our roads in the best condition.

“Road surfaces can be made worse by utility companies, so imposing higher standards on repairs will help keep roads pothole-free for longer.”

The proposals also allow for new innovative surfacing to be used, such as asphalt with a high bitumen content that is easier to compact to the required density. This makes it less prone to potholing.

Reacting to the announcement, Stewart Young, the leader of Cumbria County Council, said properly scrutinising companies who fail to repair roads was welcome but argued extra action was unnecessary.

He said: "Most of the time, companies who need to dig up roads are very responsive if their work has caused damaged to the road surface.

"It it right that they are forced to repair any faults in the work they have done, especially if the damage caused is not noticeable until a months after the work has been done.

"There have been some situations where contractors go bust while the work is being done."

Last year, the Department for Transport announced councils across England could introduce Lane Rental schemes – where utility companies are charged up to £2,500 a day to dig up busy roads – to reduce the duration of roadworks and speed up traffic on roads such as the A590.