Disclosure Log

Potholes from May 2024 to May 2026 (FOI/8230)

Message from Nottinghamshire County Council - 21 July 2026

Dear Requester,
Request FOI/8230
Further to your request received on 7th July 2026, I confirm that the Council has now considered your request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).

Questions & Answers)
  1. How many potholes were reported to the local authority from May 2 2024 to May 1 2025 

See below table
 
  1. How many potholes were reported to the local authority from May 2 2025 to May 1 2026

See below table

 
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2024    15499918626065088737391548
2025251624732036105176276577158374281618114385
20261051213163585022191126       
 
  1. How many potholes were repaired by the local authority from May 2 2024 to May 1 2025 

See below table
 
  1. How many potholes were repaired by the local authority from May 2 2025 to May 1 2026 

See below table
 
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2024    35572585255517201661166515493037
2025398345302551174610731299113994195796813932662
2026387056064653876578       

*Please note that we find that the term "pothole" is used by the public to cover a range of concerns, from surface crazing and ride quality to actual defects. As many of these concerns do not transpire to what we identify as potholes, we are providing data on jobs created specific to where a void has formed in the surface that requires a high priority (Cat 1) response in accordance with Nottinghamshire County Council Highway Inspection and Risk Manual.

(https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/media/1729316/highwayinspectionriskmanual.pdf).
 
  1. How many sq. ft or sq. m of potholes were repaired, such as through patching, by the local authority from May 2 2024 to May 1 2025

The Council does not hold this information in a recorded format that can be retrieved through a simple search of its systems.

Whilst our ‘Highways Management System’ records patching works and associated square meterage, it does not enable us to identify or filter patch repairs that were undertaken specifically to repair potholes. Many patching works are carried out for other reasons, including preventative maintenance activities.

To determine which patching works related specifically to pothole repairs would require a manual review of individual records. For the period 2 May 2024 to 1 May 2025, there are more than 5,000 jobs containing the term "patch" with recorded square meterage. Based on an estimated review time of approximately 3 minutes per record, an officer would need around 15,000 minutes, or 250 hours, to review all relevant records and identify those relating specifically to pothole repairs.

Under Regulation 12(4)(b) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), a public authority may refuse a request where it is manifestly unreasonable. The Information Commissioner"s Office (ICO) recognises that a request may be manifestly unreasonable where the burden of complying with it would be excessive in terms of the time and resources required. In this case, the estimated 250 hours required to identify the requested information would place a grossly disproportionate burden on the Council and significantly exceed the equivalent cost threshold applied under the Freedom of Information regime.

In accordance with Regulation 9 of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), which places a duty on public authorities to provide advice and assistance to applicants, we may be able to provide the total square meterage of all patching works carried out during the specified period if this would assist.

However, it should be noted that this figure would not relate exclusively to pothole repairs and would include patching undertaken for other maintenance and repair purposes.
 
  1. How many sq. ft or sq. m of potholes were repaired, such as through patching, by the local authority from May 2 2025 to May 1 2026

Please refer to the answer to Q5
 
  1. How many pothole compensation claims were paid out by the local authority from May 2 2024 to May 1 2025 Can you please reveal the total sum paid by the council

Please refer to the table below where you will find the information you have requested.
 
  1. How many pothole compensation claims were paid out by the local authority from May 2 2025 to May 1 2026 Can you please reveal the total sum paid by the council 

Please refer to the table below where you will find the information you have requested.
 
PeriodNumber SettledTotal Paid
2 May 2024 - 1 May 2025338,724.24
2 May 2025 - 1 May 202629379,881.86
 
  1. What was the budget for repairing potholes in the financial year 2024/25
 
The Council does not hold a separate budget specifically for repairing potholes.

Pothole repairs are funded from the Council’s wider ‘Highway Maintenance Budget’, which covers a range of maintenance activities and repairs for different types of highway defects and deterioration. Expenditure relating to pothole repairs is therefore not recorded separately from other highway maintenance activities.

As no standalone pothole repair budget exists, the Council is unable to provide a figure specifically for the budget allocated to repairing potholes during the 2024/25 financial year.

In accordance with Regulation 9 of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), we can provide information on the overall ‘Highway Maintenance Budget’ for 2024/25 & 2025/26 if this would assist.

 
  1. What was the budget for repairing potholes in the financial year 2025/26

Please refer to the answer to Q9.

We hope you find this information useful.
The Council publishes Access to Information requests and responses on its online Disclosure Log. Only requests deemed to be in the public interest will be included and any request included within this log will be de-personalised accordingly.
To view the Council’s Disclosure Log, please visit our website.
Your privacy: we use your personal information such as name and address so that we can comply with our legal obligations to respond to FOI requests.  For further details about the use of information about you, please see the information handling privacy notice on our website at:
https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/media/4323566/informationgovernanceandinformationrightsprivacynotice.pdf
 
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review.   Requests should be submitted within 40 working days of the date of receipt of the response to your original request and should be addressed to: Complaints and Information Team, Nottinghamshire County Council, County Hall, Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, NOTTINGHAM, NG2 7QP or [email protected].
 
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
 
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, WILMSLOW, SK9 5AF or https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/foi-and-eir-complaints/.

Yours sincerely,

Freedom of Information
Complaints and Information Team
Chief Executives Department                                         
Nottinghamshire County Council
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