42,000 potholes to be fixed across the Black Country and Staffordshire after £1.3m funding boost

The cash pot will help fix 42,040 potholes on the region’s roads, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).

Staffordshire has been allocated the most cash – £987,868 – to fill in 18,639 potholes.

Meanwhile Dudley will receive £149,975 for 2,773 potholes; Sandwell £139,188 to till in 2,626 potholes; Walsall £115,952 for 2,188 potholes; and Wolverhampton 106,877 for 2,017 holes.

Worcestershire has been allotted £731,248 to fill in 13,797 potholes.

The DfT estimates an average cost of £53 per pothole and a total of 90,480 will be filled in across the wider West Midlands.

It will bring joy for drivers who will be hoping notorious spots across the region will be fixed.

Crumbling roads which have left motorists raging include the Five Ways Island in Heath Hayes, near Cannock, which was finally repaired in July.

Parts of the A449 Stafford Road in Wolverhampton caused concerns over the damaged state of the carriageways. While fed-up residents in Station Road, Great Wyrley, even resorted to putting a home-made sign at the side of the road to warn oncoming drivers.

This latest funding follows a £75m Pothole Action Fund which was given to councils earlier this year and is part of a new £200m pot for road projects.

Roads Minister Jesse Norman said: “People need great roads to get about, do business and see friends and family.

“We’re investing record amounts at present to improve the condition of our roads so drivers and cyclists don’t have to dodge potholes to travel safely.

“We’re also looking at how new innovations can help councils keep their roads in the best condition, saving money and planning their maintenance better.”

The funding announcement comes just days after road network operator Highways England said cars of the future could be programmed to spot potholes and transmit the information to its staff.

Highways England said ‘connected vehicles’ could improve the efficiency of how routes are maintained, while simultaneously improving safety, in a new report.

The company responsible for the operation, maintenance and improvement of the nation’s roads said drones could also be deployed to monitor roads and improve response times.

In its Strategic Road Network Initial Report, the Government-owned company said technology would play an ever greater role in keeping Britain’s roads in shape.

The report will be used to inform the Government’s next road investment strategy which is due to start in 2020.

Highways England chief executive Jim O’Sullivan said: “We are delivering a record £15 billion of Government investment to give people safe, efficient and reliable journeys, and provide businesses with the links they need to prosper and grow.

“Because people’s journeys are important to us we are setting out our high level aspirations which will help ensure the network continues to drive economic growth, jobs and prosperity, and keeps traffic moving today, and into the future.

“We encourage people to read our report and feed back through the Department for Transport’s (DfT) consultation, which is also launched today.”

Last month is was revealed that across Staffordshire a total of 11,256 potholes were reported in 2016-17 with the authority shelling out £117,238 in compensation payouts. It repaired 31,000 potholes over the same period.

Dudley Council paid £4,594 for damage caused by potholes, in Wolverhampton the figure was £5,781, and Sandwell Council paid out £4,247.

The figures were compiled by insurance website confused.com and come after it emerged that Staffordshire County Council had repaired 31,000 potholes over the same period.