Pothole claims cost £20,000

CLAIMS by motorists whose vehicles have been damaged by potholes and poorly maintained roads across the borough havecost Oldham taxpayers almost £20,000 so far this year.

Oldham Council paid out £19,721 in compensation claims in 2010-11, up to the end of February.

The cost for the whole year to April looks set to be similar to that paid out in 2008-09, which was £20,303.

Compensation claims for damaged vehicles so far this year are almost double last year’s figure of £10,803, and almost four times higher than the 2007-08 cost of £5,492.