The amount of money Cheshire East has paid out to settle compensation claims for vehicle damage caused by potholes has increased by 500% in the past four years.
In 2013 the Council paid out £58,891 in compensation compared with £10,177 in 2010. In 2011 the total amount paid in compensation was £13,889 and in 2012 it was £46,435.
The number of claims lodged against CEC, by motorists for damage to their vehicles caused by potholes on CEC highways, also rose sharply last year to 861, compared to 664 in 2012, 353 in 2011 and 394 in 2010.
Cheshire East Council accepted liability and settled 220 claims in 2013, compared with 167 in 2012, 58 in 2011 and 36 in 2010.
Of the 861 claims made against CEC in 2013, 28 were for damage to vehicles caused, or allegedly caused, in Alderley Edge or Wilmslow. The Council accepted liability for only 6 of these claims and settled them by way of compensation, 2 of which were in Alderley Edge and 4 in Wilmslow.
The total amount paid out for compensation in Wilmslow last year was £720 compared with £1002 in 2012 for 5 claims, £417 in 2011 for one claim and nothing 2010.
These figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information request we made to Cheshire East Council.
We also obtained figures which show that the number of potholes reported in the borough has risen by 250% in the last 4 years. In 2013 13,759 potholes were reported, compared with 10,417 in 2012, 5879 in 2011 and 5478 in 2010. So far this year 2535 potholes have been reported.
The number of repairs carried out by CEC has also increased significantly over this period with 57,856 repairs completed in 2013, compared with 38,369 in 2012, 6841 in 2011 and 8919 in 2010. To date in 2014 6079 potholes have been repaired across Cheshire East.
Whilst the number of potholes reported across the borough has increased dramatically over the past four years the figures for Wilmslow are quite the opposite.
The number of potholes reported in the town has fallen considerably over recent years. In 2013 666 potholes were reported, down from 1108 in 2012, 1520 in 2011 and 1818 in 2010.
Looking at the number of potholes repaired in Wilmslow, there were 916 in 2013, 1210 in 2012, 375 in 2011 and 425 in 2010.
Last month it was announced that Cheshire East Council is to receive nearly £1.25m from the government to help repair local roads damaged by severe weather.
Potholes can be reported via Cheshire East Council's online fault reporting page at www.cheshireeasthighways.org/ReportIt or by phoning the highways team on 0300 123 5020.
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