Data shows cost of council's pothole compensation

West Northamptonshire Council has spent more than £130,000 on pothole compensation in the past four years, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed.

Out of nearly 3,000 claims, the authority rejected 2,363 and only 417 were successful, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

In a statement, the Reform UK-controlled authority said its priority was "to address the most urgent safety issues caused by sudden damage" to roads, and repairs relied "heavily on suitable weather windows and planned road closures".

The cost of the claims was covered by the council's highways service provider, it added.

The authority paid out £11,000 in pothole-related claims in 2022, £53,000 in 2023, £56,000 in 2024 and £11,769 last year - though several cases are still pending a decision.

According to the FOI data, the number of pothole claims more than doubled from 408 in 2022 to 955 in 2023.

The number of claims fell back down to 606 last year, but there have already been 190 compensation claims lodged in January this year alone.

On average, the council paid out £287 to each successful claimant last year. The highest compensation payout came in at £3,575 in 2024.

Neighbouring North Northamptonshire Council paid out about £120k over the same time period.

A West Northamptonshire Council spokesperson said its road network was facing "significant pressure" due to wet and freezing conditions causing widespread and accelerated deterioration.

They said: "We cannot be everywhere at once, but with continued support from residents, we can ensure that the most urgent issues are addressed as swiftly as possible."

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