A senior councillor now says the county’s backlog of potholes has been cleared
A pothole in Nook End Road in Heanor(Image: Derby Telegraph)
The RAC says Derbyshire has seen the sharpest rise in pothole claims across the UK from 2021 to the end of 2024, with new data showing a 90 percent rise across the country.
The motoring company recently submitted nearly 200 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to 177 local authorities, resulting in a rise in claims from 27,731 in 2021 to 53,015 in 2024.
In those three years alone, Derbyshire County Council has reported an increase from 224 claims in 2021 to 3,307 claims in 2024 – a rise of more than 1,000 percent, the highest in the county.
This was followed by Glasgow City Council, where claims had doubled from 1,140 in 2021 to 2,794 in 2024.
A spokesperson for the RAC said: “While the comparison to 2021 is concerning, the number of claims has thankfully come down slightly year-on-year.
“The local authorities that responded to the RAC’s request for data received a total of 56,655 claims in 2023, meaning compensation requests have dropped by six per cent to 2024’s number (53,015).”
Derbyshire County Council manages and maintains more than 3,300 miles of road – meaning it received around one claim per mile of road.
The RAC added: “It’s estimated that Derbyshire paid out the highest amount of total compensation.
“Based on an average of £257 for each of the 2,355 claims it paid out, the council is thought to have spent around £605,235 compensating drivers for pothole-related vehicle damage in 2024.”
It added that Merton Borough Council paid the highest average sum per claim in 2024 – £2,267 for each of the five claims it paid, leading to an estimated total of £11,335 paid to drivers in claims
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “The massive three-year rise in pothole compensation claims made by drivers shows what a huge task it is returning the roads to a respectable standard.
“But it’s far from an even picture across the country, with just a handful of councils receiving the lion’s share of claims from beleaguered motorists.
“Drivers are still suffering the consequences of years of neglect to Britain’s local road network.
“But even if you submit a compensation claim, the odds aren’t good, with around 40,000 requests for reimbursement turned down in 2024 alone.
“And with some councils not responding to our request for data, there’s every chance that we’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the claims that have been settled.
“But positively, councils received slightly fewer pothole compensation claims in 2024 than they did the year before.”
Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for potholes, highways and transport has responded to the data published by the RAC, reassuring residents that claims have reduced in 2025, and that a backlog of potholes has been cleared.
Councillor Charlotte Hill said: “Since May 2025, highways claims have reduced by 72 percent so far.
“The backlog of potholes has also been cleared, and the highways service is now prepared to maintain this level through winter.
“Going forward, Derbyshire highways can become more proactive rather than reactive, and work to make repairs before they become an issue for residents.
“This year, the staff within highways have worked very hard to reduce potholes and deliver a better service for Derbyshire.”