Pothole compensation paid to hundreds of disgruntled drivers in Nottinghamshire

Data obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request reveals £193,503.08 was paid out in compensation to drivers for pothole-related damage between April 2021 and April 2026.

The FOI revealed that April 2023 to 2024 was the most expensive year for the authority out of the last five, with £145,837.36 paid out in compensation. An annual breakdown shows £8,995.87 was paid between 2021 and 2022, £9,149.08 between 2022 and 2023, £145,837.36 between 2023 and 2024, £23,749.97 between 2024 and 2025 and £5,770.80 between 2025 and 2026.

Cars damaged by a pothole cost an average of £164 to repair, according to research from CarSupermarket.com with punctured tyres, suspension issues and damaged alloys said to be the most prevalent damage sustained from them.

Recent highway network surveys show that 15.9 per cent of Nottinghamshire’s roads are in a poor condition and require urgent maintenance, while 21.7 per cent are likely to need repairs “soon”.

One Mansfield taxi driver felt potholes were a big problem, adding: “I have had many bad experiences in my work. I hit them every day and it is a big issue. They need to fix them properly.”

Each claim is investigated to determine whether the Council has adhered to its policy and the requirements of the Highways Act 1980, the legal framework in place to deal with the management and operations of the road network in England and Wales. There is no automatic right to compensation, claims will only be settled if the investigation finds evidence of negligence on the part of the Council.

The figures come after Nottinghamshire County Council revealed plans to inject an extra £58.75m into fixing roads as part of record-breaking investment.

Nottinghamshire County Council announced in April details of phase two of its highways capital programme to fix its highways network – taking its investment for the next 12 months to £181.25m.

The latest funding boost comes after the council revealed it is to channel £122.5m into improving Nottinghamshire’s roads, which includes delivering a six-point plan to ensure the longevity of the county’s highways for years to come.

It is the largest investment ever made in Nottinghamshire’s highways in a single year and is believed to be the highest by a local authority in the country.

Council Leader, Councillor Mick Barton, said it would not only help to bring Nottinghamshire’s roads up to the standard residents expect, but also unlock significant economic development opportunities in the county.

He said: “This record-breaking investment is unprecedented and no other council in the country has set aside such levels of funding to improve its roads.

“This is due to the efforts of colleagues and officers here at Nottinghamshire County Council, who have worked tirelessly to put together an investment package using funding from within our own reserves and EMCCA (East Midlands Combined County Authority).

“I said we would bring in the money to ensure we have roads we will be proud to drive on, and that hard work is certainly paying off.

“However, this is only the start. We will carry on knocking on the doors of those in Government to make sure we can secure sustained long-term funding for our highways network, which is set out in our six-point plan.

“There is no doubt that these improvements are long-awaited for the people of Nottinghamshire and having better roads will also go a long way to boosting the local economy and bringing fresh investment and employment opportunities to our county.”

It also follows an announcement by the council in February to spend £2m on a programme of emergency repairs at urgent hotspots countywide and the introduction of two new JCB Pothole Pro machines.

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