Councils' big bills for pothole damage

Councils in the Black Country and Staffordshire have paid out tens of thousands of pounds to drivers whose cars were damaged by potholes on the region's weather-ravaged roads.

In some areas, the amount of money paid out in compensation to drivers last year has risen dramatically.

It comes after one of the most severe winters on record hit the area's roads, leading to fears the amount of compensation payouts could rise next year.

In Staffordshire, a total of £47,283 was paid in compensation to drivers whose cars were damaged because of potholes in the 2010 financial year.

This has increased from £9,837 in 2009.

Dudley also saw an increase in compensation payouts in 2010, up to £24,376 from just £8,544 in the previous year.

But in Wolverhampton, just £1,128.11 has been paid out in compensation to drivers in the past three years.

In Walsall, the amount of compensation paid out has actually fallen.

In 2010, £6,741 was paid out to drivers, falling from £15,246 in 2009 and £17,007 in 2008.

Walsall's transport chief Tom Ansell said he expected the amount of compensation to fall as the council tackles potholes with new and more permanent solutions. In February this year, it was revealed 1,500 potholes had appeared on Walsall's roads in the winter months.

Repairs were costing £6,000— twice the normal average.

Councillor Ansell said: "I really believe with the new techniques we are using to find permanent solutions, it will help bring down compensation payouts.

"We are using new techniques to tackle potholes permanently rather than having to revisit the same ones again and again.

"We haven't paid out much money but some claims which we have disputed we have fought vigorously and won."

The Express & Star revealed last week more than 900 drivers have lodged compensation claims with councils across the region since December, claiming their vehicles have been damaged after hitting potholes.

So far, local authorities have paid out in around 60 cases, with many being rejected.

Across the country, some £200 million of funding has been offered to local authorities- double the amount originally announced.

Staffordshire has been allocated £4.2m and Wolverhampton get around £500,000.

The figures were made available through a Freedom of Information request.