Reporting Potholes Advice & Guidance
The roads across have been particularly hard hit in winter, with thousands of potholes showing up during and after the colder months. Thousands of motorists are risking serious damage to their vehicles every day by not being aware of these potholes. Most councils across have a system in place for reporting issue with road surfaces, so the roads can be repaired and kept safe for the general public.
Looking for your nearest council?
Your local council can help with a range of online services and required forms.
Take photos, keep receipts
If your vehicle has encountered damage due to a pothole, it is important to keep any receipts, photos and estimates of the costs of repairs from a garage or mechanic. This will help you make a claim against the local council should you need to. Additionally, if you need to purchase a new tyre as a result, keep the receipt as this can also be claimed for.
Generally, the local council will usually manage the repairs and replace any damaged parts on the roads within one or two months. Ultimately, it is important to report any potholes that you may come across as it helps to keep roads safe and avoids further costly repairs for vehicle owners.
Steps for Reporting Potholes
Find Contact Details
The first step in the process is to find out who you need to report the pothole to. The local council website will have contact details for the relevant department. You may need to call or send an email in order to let the local authorities know about the issue.
Gather Information
Before making contact with the relevant department, it is important to gather and make a note of as much information about the pothole as possible. This includes:
- The exact location
- The size and depth of the pothole
- Details of any incidents that have occurred as a result of the pothole
- Pictures and/or video of the pothole
Making Contact
Once you have gathered all of the necessary information, you can contact the relevant department and make them aware of the issue. It is important to provide all of the necessary information about the pothole as this will help them deal with it as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Timeframes for reporting and claims
Reports made to local councils can take up to 4-6 weeks for evaluation with no guarantee of being accepted. It is essential to provide accurate details and evidence for your claim as this will help support your case.
Reasons why your claims may not be accepted
Your claims may not be accepted for several reasons, including:
- Incomplete information.
- Insufficient evidence to establish a valid claim.
- Inaccurate details provided.
- Pothole not within local authority control.
- The repairs needed are assessed and estimated to be too costly or not feasible depending on the roads’ overall condition.
- The pothole has already been reported as part of a scheduled road maintenance program or is considered low priority.