Almost 1,000 drivers awarded pothole damage claims

A total of 978 drivers made successful claims to Stoke-on-Trent City Council for pothole-related damage

Almost 1,000 drivers have made successful pothole damage claims with one receiving almost £46,000 in compensation.

A total of 1,308 compensation claims relating to vehicle damage caused by potholes on Stoke-on-Trent’s roads were made against the city council between 2020 and 2024, of which 978 were successful.

The council has paid out £371,914 in compensation over the four years, according to figures released following a Freedom of Information request.

In response, Stoke-on-Trent City Council said work will be carried out over the next few years to address the deterioration of the city's roads.

The number of successful claims for pothole damage more than doubled from 171 in 2022/23 to 403 in 2023/24.

However, the total amount paid out in compensation fell from £77,892 to £41,524.

The single biggest compensation award over the period was £45,915 paid out to one motorist in 2021/22.

A council spokesperson said: “We acknowledge the concerns raised regarding the increase in claims related to pothole damage and the overall condition of Stoke-on-Trent’s roads.

“We want to assure all road users we are committed to addressing the challenges faced by our road network. In line with the recent government announcements, there are plans in place to improve the condition of our roads."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.