What cyclists need

We believe that cycling should be made safer and easier in our town, through relatively simple improvements to roads, junctions, crossings and facilities like cycle paths and parking.

This will encourage more people to cycle and contribute to lower congestion, better air quality and more people enjoying the benefits of exercise.

What we do

The key bodies in charge of the design and maintenance of our local roads and cycling facilities are West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire Council.

Our Campaigning team provides informed comment on council plans and consultations and tries to raise awareness of the needs of cyclists, and about often simple things that councils can do to help.

We work closely with Living Streets Northampton (see Links), an organisation representing both cyclists and pedestrians.

For more information, please contact our Campaigns Officer (see Who’s Who).

What you can do

Reporting potholes

Reporting potholes is helpful and surprisingly simple. You have two main options:

• Fix My Street - national portal for reporting to local authorities

You can use this anywhere in the country (including our neighbouring counties) to report “street scene” problems to the relevant local authority. Report using address or map. Include a photo if possible, for maximum impact.

Tip: to find “Pothole”, look under “Roads”

• Fix My Street - West Northamptonshire - a more localised view of the same portal.


• FillThatHole - Cycling UK portal. The reporting categories under “Roads” are slightly more relevant than FixMyStreet, with four options including “Large” or “Small” pothole.

Tip: to find “Pothole”, click “Road”

Local councils inspect roads at set frequencies depending on the road category and other factors. Any claims against a council for damage caused by these faults may prove unsuccessful if the council can say that the fault has not been reported.

Reports often produce a surprisingly quick response and may encourage the council and their contractors to take a more pro-active approach to road maintenance.

Contact your councillor

For less urgent and more general issues, you may wish to contact your local councillor.

West Northants Council | Find Your Councillor

Respond to Consultations

The Council consults regularly on important plans that affect cycling, and individual planning applications can also be very important. Responses from cyclists are very helpful. Please contact our Campaigns Officer (see Who’s Who) for information and advice.