Dudley Council has paid out more than £80,000 in compensation for vehicle damage caused by potholes over the past five years, according to newly released figures.
Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveals that between 2021 and 2025, the authority settled claims totaling £81,903. The most expensive year was 2024, when the council paid £28,884 to resolve 180 claims. In contrast, 2022 saw the lowest payout, with 69 claims costing £10,870.
From the 2020/21 financial year to 2024/25, the council repaired 15,744 potholes. In January 2026, it launched a 'blitz' to address deteriorating road surfaces after conducting over 3,000 safety inspections.
Council's response to pothole issues
Councillor Simon Phipps, Dudley's cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, stated: "Like all local authorities, we have faced challenges with potholes, with winter conditions negatively impacting highways in some locations."
He added: "We have a continuous programme of works to repair potholes in Dudley borough. Two years ago, we launched a proactive service focusing on permanent repairs rather than temporary fixes, including night-time pothole-blitz sessions to catch up on issues left over from winter."
"Residents have given us great feedback since this started, but with more than 700 miles of roads across the borough, we know the work is never completed and there is more to do," Phipps continued.
Road maintenance and pothole grading
The council is responsible for 1,033 kilometres of roads in the borough. Its maintenance budget for 2025/26 was £10.7 million, allocated to resurfacing, street light maintenance, signs and road markings, green areas such as verges, watercourse maintenance, and pothole repairs.
Potholes are assessed based on factors including size, location, and deterioration rate, and are rated on a scale from one to 16. Category 16 defects must be repaired within two hours, while category eight and above should be fixed within 24 hours. Lower-risk potholes can be left for up to 28 days or scheduled for repair 'in due course'.
