Cash-strapped councils count cost of big freeze

Local authorities are having to make large payouts because of the effects of the country's worst winter weather for decades - on top of their already huge roads-maintenance backlog.

Figures published today reveal they have been forced to find tens of thousands of pounds in compensation for drivers because of the freezing conditions which tore road surfaces apart.

Hundreds of claims have been submitted for both vehicle damage and injuries. These have come on top of rocketing spending on keeping roads clear of snow and ice.

One small council alone, East Lothian, has paid out 10,000 following 85 claims for damage to vehicles caused by "imperfections in roads such as potholes". Another, Fife, received 159 claims for injuries caused by the bad weather and damage to vehicles. A total of 13 cases were settled for damage to vehicles at a cost of more than 3,300.

The news follows the latest official survey of non-trunk roads showing that more than 2,000 miles needed immediate attention even before the big freeze.

The Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland, comprising council roads chiefs, said more than 7 per cent of such roads were in the "red" category, requiring urgent treatment last summer, 1 per cent more than the previous year.

However, the figure reached 18 per cent in one unnamed local authority area, which was one of six councils with more than 10 per cent of their roads in the red zone.

The effect of the big freeze is likely to make the situation even more acute, with the Automobile Association estimating that the number of potholes increased by one-third because of the severe winter weather.

In addition, councils expect to see their ability to tackle the problem further hampered when the Scottish Government passes on severe budget cuts later this year, imposed by the Treasury.

Among other councils, Scottish Borders settled four claims for vehicle damage out of 79 between November and the end of March at a total cost of nearly 1,400.South Lanarkshire Council, which has 22 unsettled claims for vehicle damage and injuries, said claims could be received for a period of up to five years for vehicle or property damage and up to three years for personal injuries.

Inverclyde Council estimated 26 ongoing claims could cost it 25,000.

Glasgow City Council said it spent 4 million on winter maintenance - nearly twice the normal 2.5m - with the number of potholes also almost doubling to 10,000 and compensation claims for damage to vehicles nearly doubling to 544.

Motoring groups said the pothole payouts meant even less money was available for repairing roads.

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "Every pound spent on compensation is a pound that could have been spent keeping Scotland's roads up to standard.

"Even these figures, where we are seeing small local authorities such as East Lothian with compensation bills running into five figures, are just the tip of the iceberg. We know that very few drivers even bother to put a claim in for damage to their vehicle."

He added: "The problem is a result of underspending on Scotland's roads, and is only going to get worse. We have a huge backlog of work to be done and, with the public-sector cuts, there is now going to be more money wasted on compensation claims."

Aberdeenshire Council said road repairs, including "patching" work, from November to the end of March cost 1.65m and winter maintenance shot up to 7.7m compared to 6.1m for the same period in 2008-09. There were 198 compensation claims between 1 December and 31 March. Four claims have been paid at a cost of 686.

Angus Council, which had 129 claims for injuries and vehicle damage from winter conditions between November and March, paid for seven at a cost of 899.73. Road repairs, such as pothole filling but not permanent patching, cost around 310,000 between November and May.

The council spent 2.82m on winter maintenance and there were 115 days between October and April when the road surface temperatures were below zero.

Dundee City Council, which received nine compensation claims for injuries and damage to vehicles during the winter, spent 157,462 repairing potholes.A total of 6,840 potholes were found and repaired between November 2009 and March this year.

East Ayrshire Council's "winter service" bill was 1.7m and 415,939 was spent on pothole repairs between November and May. Among other councils, a Midlothian spokesman said claims received had doubled to 70 from January to April compared to last year, but none of them had yet been settled. Perth and Kinross received 51 claims for damage to vehicles from road defects between October and March. One claim was settled at a cost of 180 and 47 are ongoing.

Renfrewshire received 194 claims from motorists and pedestrians from November to February and has settled 38 at a cost of 5,300.

Councils said the growing problem would take a considerable time to address.

A spokesman for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities said that, even before the onset of the harsh winter, the nation's road networks required significant investment. He said: "While the winter was particularly problematic, it is a long-term problem that requires a long-term funding solution."

However, ministers said they had increased funding to councils to help tackle the winter damage.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: "Scotland experienced some of the worst weather conditions in decades this winter.

"On potholes, we gave councils an extra 5m on top of the almost 12 billion in funding for local authorities this year."

HOW TO CLAIM

Step-by-step potholes claim guide.

1. Gather evidence - take photographs, measure the pothole's width and depth and note its exact location and whether it is hard to see, such as by being hidden on a blind corner.

2. Report the pothole - to Transport Scotland and its operating companies (Amey, BEAR Scotland, Scotland Transerv) for motorways and trunk roads, and the relevant local authority for all other roads.

3. Submit a Freedom of Information Act request for information about how often the road is inspected and maintained.

4. Stay calm at all times - remember when contacting a council, anything you say could be read out in court, so make sure you sound professional as much as you can and never lose your temper.

5. Don' be hasty - don't rush to issue court proceedings or appoint a solicitor.

6. Be willing to negotiate - if an offer is made, be willing to negotiate and maybe accept less than you claimed for.

source: www.potholes.co.uk