Weather blamed for over £300k highway repair overspend in Gateshead
Gateshead Council forked out more than £300,000 overspend in the last financial year to repair the area’s highways.
A report, due to be discussed next week by councillors, has detailed the financial impacts of road repairs, including potholes, on the council’s coffers over the previous business year. According to the local authority, despite an initial budget of £1,354,698, the council had to splash an extra £333,689.
The report blames the overspend on “increased rainfall and inclement weather” resulting in “significant impacts” on the council’s roads. According to council documents, 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2023 were peak years for the number of pothole orders raised with the authority.
Council figures also show that 21% of Gateshead’s B and C roads require treatment, however, the report goes on to state that the figure is around the same level as neighbouring authorities.”
The figures for the pothole orders, per year, are as follows:
2017 – 3,645 2018 – 4744 2021 – 3379 2023 – 3725 Again, the authority blames particularly harsh winters in these years for the peaked number of pothole reports.
The report also states that insurance claims relating to potholes “remain low” with a total of £93,630 paid out since 2018. A claim can be made up to three years from the date of a personal injury and six for a property claim.
From 2015 to 2023, Gateshead Council paid out £36,775.44 in compensation claims for damages to cars as a result of potholes. The authority ranked 4th out of the seven North East local authorities in terms of total car damage payouts, with Northumberland County Council taking a comfortable first place at £2,012,237.97.
The council’s report concludes: “The council has invested considerable funds to its highways to maintain its current condition, this keeps condition scoring at the same level as neighbouring authorities as set out in the annual performance figures.”