Conwy: Council spent more than £1.6m on pothole repairs in three years! (you would never think they had!)

 
The roads are in an awful state and appear to be getting worse every year! Some roads are dangerous to travel on with a Motorbike or Pushbike! CONWY County Borough Council has spent more than £1.6m on pothole repairs in the last three years, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed.

The council has also had 78 claims lodged against it for damage caused by potholes since 2021.

An investigation by Accident Claims Advice (ACA) found that the council has spent £1,661,084 on pothole repairs.

Despite the rise in compensation claims, Conwy Council has only settled two compensation claims, with damages totalling £300. 

Conwy pothole claims in 2022, 2023 and 2024. (Image: ACA)

It comes as the number of roads being left unrepaired by UK councils has now hit record levels. 

Conwy Council confirmed it has 231 potholes in need of repair as of January 2025. New data shows that the council has had 78 legal claims lodged against it regarding potholes in the last three years, with the figure increasing from 22 claims in 2022 to 29 last year.

Conwy pothole repair spending from 2021 to 2024. (Image: ACA)Conwy Council’s spending on pothole repairs has increased year on year, from £463,000 in 2022 to £603,000 in 2024. 

ACA's Public Liability specialist, Beverly Faulkner, said: “Councils and local authorities have a duty of care to ensure the safety of people using public spaces, such as parks, highways and footpaths.

"A crucial part of this is making sure the land under their control is properly maintained. Failing to do this can put people at risk. 

“The damage caused by potholes can be catastrophic leading to serious injury and/or costly vehicle damage.

"It is vital that roads are properly maintained and councils are held responsible for the roads they maintain.”

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “The number of cars is increasing, traffic volume is increasing, the number of potholes is increasing, the only thing not increasing seems to be the amount of money being spent on maintaining our local roads, which everyone in the country relies on whether they drive or not.”

Conwy County Borough Council was approached for comment. From...https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/25011676.conwy-council-spent-1-6m-pothole-repairs-three-years/