Cornwall’s Pothole Problem: £7.7m Spent as Claims Triple in Three Years

Cornwall Council has spent more than £7.7 million repairing potholes in the last three years, while compensation claims for damage caused by road defects have surged by 275 per cent.

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Pothole Compensation Claims Soar

An investigation by Accident Claims Advice (ACA) found that legal claims against the Council for pothole-related damage have more than tripled, rising from 139 claims in 2022 to 521 last year (2023/24).

In total, 1,065 claims have been lodged over the past three years, with the Council paying out £17,000 in compensation. Last year alone, a record £9,739 was paid to settle 35 claims.

ACA’s public liability specialist, Beverly Faulkner, emphasised the importance of road maintenance, stating:

“Councils and local authorities have a duty of care to ensure the safety of people using public spaces, such as parks, highways and footpaths. A crucial part of this is making sure the land under their control is properly maintained. Failing to do this can put people at risk.

“The damage caused by potholes can be catastrophic leading to serious injury and/or costly vehicle damage. It is vital that roads are properly maintained and councils are held responsible for the roads they maintain.”

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Cornwall’s Pothole Repairs Increasing

Despite the rise in claims, Cornwall Council has increased its spending on pothole repairs each year. In 2022, £1.7 million was allocated to fixing potholes, rising to £3.2 million in 2024. However, there are still 523 potholes currently awaiting repair across the county.

The issue reflects a wider national crisis, with 82 per cent of local roads flagged for maintenance being left unrepaired last year—the highest proportion since records began in 2009.

Government Funding Boost for Road Repairs

In response to the deteriorating state of Britain’s roads, the UK Treasury announced in October that local road maintenance funding for 2025/26 will total nearly £1.6 billion—an increase of £500 million on the previous year. More than £300 million has been specifically allocated for local authorities in the South West.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the issue in December, stating:

“Broken roads can risk lives and cost families hundreds if not thousands of pounds on repairs. That’s a cost that can easily be avoided by investing properly in our roads.

“That’s why we’re giving councils funding to repair our roads and get Britain moving again – with a clear expectation that they get on with the job.”

The Growing Pothole Crisis

Across Britain, pothole-plagued minor roads have fallen to their lowest level on record. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, highlighted the scale of the problem:

“The number of cars is increasing, traffic volume is increasing, the number of potholes is increasing, the only thing not increasing seems to be the amount of money being spent on maintaining our local roads, which everyone in the country relies on whether they drive or not.”

For those affected by pothole damage, Accident Claims Advice offers a 24-hour helpline and live chat service, which can be accessed on their website: Accident Claims Advice – Pothole Injury Claims.

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