Potholes in Bexley cause £1,351 of damage to vehicles

A total of 121 motorists have successfully claimed compensation from Bexley Council, following damage inflicted on their vehicles by potholes and damage on the highways.

Although this figure may sound high, it is considerably lower than the amount some of Bexley’s neighbouring London boroughs have paid between 2010 and 2012.

In Bromley, the council were forced to pay out £6,925 to 189 drivers while in Lewisham, £3,448 was paid to 96 claimants.

Topping the list of London boroughs was Croydon Council, who paid £30,831 to a total of 380 motorists.

Motorcyclist Steven Adams, who lives in Whitfield Road, Bexleyheath, said: “Bexley’s position is probably down to the affluence of the borough rather than the damage caused.

“If I was to clip a tyre on a pothole I wouldn’t even think about it and would just go and get it repaired.

“What is the point in complaining to the council over a £60 tyre? I would need it repaired then and now.”

The 43-year-old added: “The roads in Bexley are not the most fabulous but I don’t think they are any different to the rest of London.”

Driver Rob Leitch, of Station Road in Sidcup, said: “I think the roads in Sidcup are generally pothole free in general, I haven’t had any problems with them.”

According to the figures from roadside recovery firm Britannia Rescue, 54,436 claims were made against councils nationwide during the two-year period, amounting to £4.8 million of compensation being paid to motorists.

A Bexley Council spokeswoman said: “We operate a pro-active maintenance programme, major and re-active works in order to ensure that potholes in Bexley are dealt with quickly and effectively.

“Potholes that meet intervention levels are made safe within a maximum of 24hrs and if they exceed safety criteria, they are made safe immediately.

“Those that do not require immediate intervention or do not meet safety criteria are monitored and put forward into the council’s carriageway patching programme.”