Almost £25 million has been spent fixing potholes across Northern Ireland in the past two years – with the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough the most notorious of all 11 local districts.
A total of 30,230 road defects were detected in that period with Newry, Mourne and Down a very close second with 29,155.
A Freedom of Information request revealed that the Department for Infrastructure, on average, paid out more than 75 claims a month.
Motorists were handed a whopping £440,000 in claims. The average payout was £200.
A Department for Infrastructure spokeswoman said: “Despite a challenging budgetary situation, the department has delivered a significant programme of resurfacing and surface dressing this year and continues to carry out a programme of routine maintenance, including pothole repairs and street lighting repairs, to meet all essential public safety requirements.”
Last month it was revealed that potholes on local roads will have to be ‘ankle deep’ before being classed as in need of repair.
The pothole plight is one of the most common issues raised with locally elected representatives.
Read more: Our borough eclipses Belfast to top ‘potholes league of shame’
