EAST Lothian Council paid out less than £100 in compensation for pothole damage last year, despite receiving more than 40 claims from drivers.

A Freedom of Information request by the Local Democracy Reporting Service has revealed that the total payout by the council in 2022 was the equivalent of paying just £2.31 per claim.

It revealed that 42 claims were lodged with the local authority by drivers who said that their vehicles had been damaged by potholes. No details were provided on how many claims were successful,  but the total amount paid out was £97.26.

It also revealed that in 2021, the council received just 12 claims for compensation from drivers relating to potholes – and paid out £169.76.

In the last year, a further 45 claims have been lodged; however, no details of payments have been made available.

The council said that in December 2021, it appointed an external claims assessor, saying: “As a result, some records are not retained in a reportable format.”

East Lothian Courier: Some examples of recent potholes on roads in East Lothian (taken May 2023). Image: Google Maps

An example of recent potholes in East Lothian (taken May 2023). Image: Google Maps

The figures are vastly different compared to claims and payouts over the decade from 2008 to 2018.

In 2018, the council received 63 claims from drivers over pothole damage and paid out £3,160, and in the previous year, 2017, it paid out £9,932 in compensation over just 38 claims.

In 2020, when Covid-19 saw much of the country locked down, only four claims were filed with the council and no data on the amount paid out has been made available.

A council spokesperson said: “We have a rolling programme of roads maintenance and seek to address potholes across our large network of local roads as effectively as possible.

“We take reports of damage to vehicles very seriously. All claims are investigated fully by independent claims handling agents. Compensation will be paid where there is legal liability.”