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

Senior/Principal Regeneration Officer

Fareham Borough Council
£45,465 - £55,379
Our town centre regeneration is moving from planning to delivery, and we're looking for someone who wants to help make regeneration happen. Fareham, Hampshire
Recuriter: Fareham Borough Council

Director of Adult Health and Social Care

Leeds City Council
up to £185,237
Drive Change. Shape Lives. Lead Boldly. Leeds, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Leeds City Council

SEND Caseworker

Nottingham City Council
£46,142 - £49,282
Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)? Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Nottingham City Council

Head of Children and Young People Services

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
£89,565 - £98,298
We are looking for an inspiring and experienced leader who is passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people and their families Neath Port Talbot (Castell-nedd Port Talbot)
Recuriter: Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

Supported Accommodation Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 7, £31,015 - £34,811 per annum
Be the Person Who Helps a Young Person Believe in Their Future. Every young person deserves someone who believes in them. Someone who listens when l Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner