Mark Whitehead 19 October 2017

Councils paid out more than £3m last year due to pothole damage

Putting all the UK's potholes together would create a 40km hole stretching down to the Earth's mantle, according to research by the comparison website Confused.com.

The research, obtained through freedom of information requests to almost 200 local authorities and a survey of motorists, found more than 1m potholes were reported by drivers in 2016.

Confused.com says a third of drivers reported damage to their car from potholes and councils paid £3.1m in compensation to victims last year.

They spent more than £104m repairing potholes, but 69% of drivers think they should do more to tackle the problem.

The website has created an interactive animation showing the 40k hole which is almost four times as deep as the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean.

According to Confused.com Wiltshire Council made the biggest pay-out to victims of pothole damage, more than half a million pounds in total, followed by Surrey and Cardiff.

The cost of repairing potholes also varied widely. Westminster council came top of the list paying an average £2,400 to repair each of 250 potholes last year.

Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, said: 'If drivers experience a bump in the road, they should report it to their local council as soon as possible before the problem gets any worse.

'The cost of motoring alone is getting more and more expensive and damage repairs is a big contributor to this, as car parts increase in price as well.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Transport and Major Work Manager

Slough Borough Council
£54,556 to £60,085 per year Inclusive of Local Weighting Allowance of £1096
Drive the future of transport and infrastructure in Slough Slough, Berkshire
Recuriter: Slough Borough Council

Residential Worker

Essex County Council
£27935.00 - £35344.00 per annum + includes allowance
Residential WorkerPermanent, Full Time£27,935 - £35,344 per annum (including allowance)Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Programme Manager

Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman
£64,582-£70,591 (Coventry & York), £69,204-£75,222 (London)
Every year, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman helps thousands of people who have been let down by public services Hybrid working – allocated to offices in Coventry, York or London
Recuriter: Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman

Streetwork Inspector

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£41,113 to £43,680 including London Weighting
Communities, Environment, and Central have a vacancy in its Network Management Division Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Product Manager

Royal Borough of Greenwich
PO5 - £52,194 to £55,323.
Royal Greenwich is a vibrant borough, with a rich history and diverse community. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich
Linkedin Banner