When is a hole not a pothole?

01 April 2008

Not enough cash to repair roads
Councils redefine potholes
Could lead to more compensation claims

Is this a pothole? Apparently not - it's less than 4cm deep

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Councils around the country are so strapped for cash when repairing roads that they have redefined what a pothole is.

Local authorities are facing a shortfall of over £1 billion for repairing around one million potholes each year, so a group of over 20 councils have compiled new road-repair guidelines.

Apparently, they have decided that holes in the road only become potholes when they are more than 4cm deep.

These councils are now cutting their road maintenance bills by refusing to repair potholes unless they are deeper than this.

Motoring and cycling groups have warned that this will lead to more accidents and a surge in compensation claims.