Big increase in claims for pothole compensation in Surrey
Claims made to councils in Britain doubled in a year, according to new analysis.
Surrey County Council saw the biggest rise of pothole compensation claims made to any council in Britain last year.
Claims to the council went from 734 in 2022 to 3,418 in 2023.
Research from the RAC found the number of pothole compensation claims made to councils in Britain doubled in a year. The study also indicated that just 15% of claims made last year resulted in pay-outs.
Across the country, payments averaged just £260 each, but the RAC says a typical repair bill for pothole damage beyond a puncture is about £460.
Councils refused seven out of 10 claims because they were not aware the pothole existed, which is permitted under the Highways Act 1980.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: "We strongly urge drivers to inform councils about any potholes they are aware of, either via the RAC's website or using the free Stan app which collects data on the state of UK roads.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in her Budget last month that the Government will aim to fund work to fix an additional one million potholes in the 2024/25 financial year by increasing local roads maintenance funding in England by £500 million to nearly £1.6 billion.
Mr Williams said: "It's vital that this money is used by councils not to merely fill potholes, but to carry out preventative maintenance - through surface dressing roads at regular intervals to stop roads falling apart in the first place.
"Roads that are beyond reasonable repair should be resurfaced."
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