Potholes costing councils millions in compensation

Feb 28 2010 by Sara Nichol, Sunday Sun

POTHOLES on the North’s roads and footpaths have forced councils to cough up millions of pounds in compensation.

Drivers and pedestrians have won more than £4.5m in damages from local authorities after falling victim to potholes and uneven surfaces during the past four years.

And councils have also had to fork out nearly £4m in legal and medical fees, a Sunday Sun investigation can reveal, meaning the total bill was over £8m.

The total cost of legal fees and damages paid could even top £10m as some of the region’s local authorities failed to provide complete information.

Motorist groups said these statistics are worrying in light of last month’s cold snap, which will only serve to make the regions road and footpaths worse - leaving cash-strapped councils having to find further funding for the problem.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed that 8,651 claims were logged by aggrieved motorists and pedestrians across the North’s 12 local authorities in the past four years. Councils only admitted liability in 1,204 instances, excluding Gateshead, which failed to provide figures.

In Newcastle alone, the bill for trips, falls, crashes and damage to vehicles, including legal fees, came to £1,115,378 and was only topped by Sunderland which shelled out £1,926,147.

But the figures have dropped significantly for all councils between 2005/2006 and 2008/2009, with most reporting an 80% decrease in the amount paid out in compensation to pedestrians and motorists.