With a groaning in-tray of 549 claims for pothole damage to their cars, Shire Hall paid out on only SIX cases in 2023. Ahead of bin collections, tax rates and dog fouling, the subject is the hottest topic the council faces.

But news revealed today in the latest annual ALARM report from the Somerset-based Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) shows that admin headache is hardly likely to fade: roads including those across Gloucestershire are now at "breaking point" due to potholes, the report says, with a national repairs backlog stemming back eight years.

County councils were expected to fix two million potholes in the current financial year, a figure that rose 43% on the 2022-23 period – and the highest annual total since 2015-16.

Drilling down into the economics of pothole problems, the ALARM report, (which stands for Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance), says that the average carriageway budget shortfall per local authority is £7.2m. 

Across England and Wales, the combined bill for putting our roads right comes to a new record high of £16.3bn.

The AIA findings come in the wake of recent criticism by the Lib Dems  on Gloucestershire County Council that not enough is being done to plug the county's broken roads.

Against the backdrop of Westminster recently pledging to provide £8.3bn of extra funding over 11 years for road improvements in England, the AIA's annual report shows 47% of local road miles were rated as being in a 'good condition', with 36% rated 'adequate' and 17% marked as 'poor'.

AIA chairman Rick Green said: "Local authorities have a bit more money to spend this year but the impact of rising costs due to inflation means they have actually been able to do less with it.

"Couple this with the effects of the extreme weather we are increasingly facing, and the result is that the rate at which local roads are suffering is accelerating towards breaking point."

The AIA survey also showed average highway maintenance budgets rose by 2.3% in 2023-24 against 2022-23. Inflation, however, is pushing local authorities to effectively experienc a real-terms cut.

With AA data showing pothole-related breakdowns were at their highest for five years, the breakdown group GEM Assist is meanwhile warning drivers to be extra vigilant – despite the retreat of colder temperatures and wintry conditions.

James Luckhurst, GEM spokesman, said: "Potholes have a significant financial impact on motorists, who most of the time must bear the cost of repairs to paintwork, suspension and tyres - even though they have already paid for local road maintenance through their council tax.

GEM is calling for a consistent national policy among councils as to where or not they will compensate drivers for damage caused by potholes.

● The Asphalt Industry Alliance is a partnership of the two principal bodies which represent the UK suppliers of raw materials used to produce asphalt, as well as asphalt producers and laying contractors: the Mineral Products Association (MPA) and Eurobitume. It draws on the knowledge and resources of each association and their members. It was established in 2000 to increase awareness of the asphalt industry and its activities, and the uses and benefits of asphalt. Asphalt is the generic term used to refer to the range of bitumen coated materials available in the UK that are used in road construction and maintenance. Asphalt also has other, non-road applications such as airport runways, sports arenas and parking areas.