Motoring News

The government and local councils must spend more on repairing Britain’s roads and eradicating potholes that cause millions of pounds worth of damage every year, according to Warranty Direct.

Council spending on fixing potholes in UK roadways is only a tenth of the amount that motorists spend on repairing their cars following damage caused by inadequate roads, the group states.

It refers to research from the Asphalt Industry Alliance claiming that £33 million was spent on filling 589,000 holes in roads over the last 12 months.

Warranty Direct’s figures suggest that the bill for motorists fixing pothole-related damage on their vehicles stands at around £320 million a year.

"Once again, this report highlights that the balance needs to be addressed for the motorist," said Duncan McClure-Fisher, managing director of Warranty Direct.

"The state of the nation’s roads is a growing problem and one that won’t disappear unless there is a dramatic redirection of funds and a tightening of maintenance, policed by the councils and the Department for Transport as a whole."

Warranty Direct points out that motorists who have had to pay to fix their car as a result of a hole in a road can claim for compensation from their local council.