Motorways pothole repair bill hits £30k
More than 700 potholes were urgently repaired on the region's motorways in the past two years – costing tens of thousands of pounds.
But only just over one in ten motorists received compensation payouts after claiming potholes damaged their cars. The Highways Agency today said compensation payments are only made where a pothole caused a "major" defect. Figures, released through a Freedom of Information request, reveal a fall in the number of repairs being made year-on-year.
In total 245 potholes were repaired on the M6 between J6 for Spaghetti Junction and J15 serving North Staffordshire in 2010/11.
But only 156 repairs were needed on the same 39 mile-stretch of motorway also serving Great Barr, Wednesbury, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Stafford in 2011/12.
Figures show 92 potholes were repaired on the M5 between J1 at West Bromwich and J4 serving North Worcestershire in 2010/11.
But the following year only 55 repairs were needed on the busy stretch past Oldbury and Halesowen.
The M54 in Shropshire and Staffordshire had 130 pothole repairs in 2010/11 and 75 last year.
Highways staff say the average cost of a pothole repair is £40, which equates to £30,160 spent in total.
Highways Agency spokesman Bas Abdulla said: "Our contractor for the West Midlands region, Amey, is required to undertake daily safety patrols to identify issues such as potholes on our road network.
"Where there has been a significant failure of the running surface which has resulted in damage to a vehicle, the agency will consider claims for compensation.
"Of the 78 claims for compensation received during 2010/11 and 2011/12 for vehicles damaged while using the M6 junctions 6 to 15, M5 junctions 1 to 4 and M54, compensation was found to be justified in seven cases."
