Thousands paid in pothole claims

Local authorities across the Black Country and Staffordshire have had to fork out large amounts over the last 12 months after people tripped and fell or damaged their vehicles on potholes and uneven carriageways.

In 2007/2008 Sandwell Council alone, received 214 claims – 31 per cent of which it admitted liability.

In total the authority has spent £31,835 dealing with the claims, £17,630 of which was compensation. The rest was made up of £12,739 in legal fees, while £433 was spent on medical fees.

Figures obtained under Freedom of Information legislation show the highest compensation payment Sandwell Council made for a claim in 2008 was £4,766.

This was paid on February 20 this year relating to an incident in March 2008, where the claimant fell over on uneven paving in North Western Road, Smethwick. In addition £5,250 was paid for the claimant's legal fees – a total of £10,016.

A further £6,685 was paid out after someone tripped and fell over a pothole causing injury in Giles Road, Oldbury in February 2008.

Sandwell's neighbourhood's chief, Councillor Mahboob Hussain, said: "There are occasions when cars drive over footpaths which might do damage and there has been occasions when somebody has dropped a load and damaged the footpath. We are well geared up when people report these issues and look into them as soon as possible. I don't think potholes are something we've got a big problem with."

In the past year Dudley Council has paid out £5,672 in compensation, for damage to cars and injuries to pedestrians.

In Staffordshire, £8,908 for was paid out last year, bringing the total over the past five years to £39,782.

In Walsall, during the last 12 months compensation settlements relating to pothole-type claims totalled £227,000.

But this cover claims dating back to 2001.

Councillor John O'Hare, Walsall Council leader went on to say that of this amount some £18,000 was paid out for pothole-related claims in the 2007/08 period.

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