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One in seven of Kent road users receive pothole compensation

Drivers who claimed for damage to their vehicle from a pothole were successful in just 14% of claims, it's been revealed.

Figures from Kent County Council (KCC) reveal 958 motorists, motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians and commercial road users claimed for damage or injury through a faulty road surface between April 2016 and March 2017.

Of those 132 were successful in their claim, according to a Freedom of Information request by Kent Advanced Motorcyclists Group.

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One in seven motorcyclists surveyed by the Kent Advanced Motorcyclists Group have been injured or had their bikes damaged by a pothole
One in seven motorcyclists surveyed by the Kent Advanced Motorcyclists Group have been injured or had their bikes damaged by a pothole

Meanwhile, one in seven motorcyclists surveyed said they had suffered injury or damage to their bike from a pothole.

This number was revealed through a separate survey by the motorcyclist group.

Nick Farley, from Kent Advanced Motorcyclists Group, said: "It is high time that government, local and national, took its share of the responsibility for road safety.

"Road safety is not something which depends solely on how well we ride or drive.

"We can all improve our skills, but we cannot improve the roads."

A Kent County Council spokesman said: "We are one of the largest local authorities in England, with over 5,000 miles of road network, which in part explains Kent’s position in terms of the number of claims lodged.

"The ‘successful’ claim figures reflect a low level of liability because of our improved fault reporting and repairs brought in over the past few years.

This mammoth gash was discovered at the A249 yesterday. Picture: Hugh Fitzgibbon
This mammoth gash was discovered at the A249 yesterday. Picture: Hugh Fitzgibbon

"We work hard to maintain our roads to help prevent problems such as potholes in the future.

"Resurfacing is an essential part to maintaining our road network and we schedule all of our planned work, where necessary, each year, usually during warmer months.

"We select the right method at the right time to get best value for money.

"Our resurfacing programme is published on Kent.gov and our programme is based on road condition data, and includes information from regular safety inspections, annual surveys using specialist equipment, and reports from councillors, parish councils, community groups and residents."

"Because of cuts to budgets, when repairs are done they're of a very low standard," Steve Mallett

Last year we reported how KCC does not have to pay out for claims where plans had already been made for a road to be repaired.

Steve Mallett from the Motorcycle Action Group's North Kent branch said: "For a start when repairs are made to roads they should be good quality repairs.

"Because of cuts to budgets, when repairs are done they're of a very low standard.

"I'd say potholes are dangerous for everybody particularly for two wheel vehicles because you're in affect doing a balancing act.

"I'd say the majority of people having swerved around a pothole are so thankful that they kept riding and haven't gone to the trouble of making a claim but how many people actually claimed in the first place?"

It comes after a woman had to be taken to hospital earlier today as a mammoth gash opened up on the A249.

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