Compensation claims over Edinburgh potholes plummet during pandemic

That compares with nearly 300 claims last year.

And complaints about potholes on Edinburgh’s roads were down too – from 5,687 in 2019/2020 to 1,357 so far this financial year.

The figures were revealed by the council in response to Freedom of Information requests by Lothian Conservative MSP Miles Briggs.

The council has paid out £9,572.23 to date for compensation claims in 2018/19, which totalled 215, and £5,229.45 for claims in 2019/20, which numbered 299. No payments have yet been made for the two claims made this financial year.

Mr Briggs said: “So far this year there has been significantly less potholes reported to Edinburgh Council and only two claims against pothole damage is incredibly low compared to previous years.

“It is understandable that the pandemic has seen fewer people using local roads and reporting potholes, however there are still questions why so few people have claimed compensation for pothole damage this year.

“Fewer people using the roads during lockdown may well have significantly reduced the number of potholes in the Capital and given the council an opportunity to make much needed repairs.”

A year ago, the Evening News reported how three drivers were left hundreds of pounds out of pocket and with damaged tyres after hitting a "horrendous" pothole on the road between Ratho and Ratho Station.

The Evening News’ roads champion Pothole Pete highlighted the extent of the problem across the Capital as Mr Briggs claimed the city’s roads were in a “shocking state of disrepair” and claimed hundreds of potholes were being reported every week, some of which had caused “substantial damage”.

And a leading member of the cycling campaign group Spokes said potholes were “a menace” to cyclists and motorists.

The council said at the time it had spent £1,161,825 on potholes between April 2018 and March 2019 – partly because of the damage caused by the “Beast from the East” – and was working "day in day out" to tackle poor road surfaces.

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