Local council sees fall in insurance claims for pothole damage

Insurance claims against Northamptonshire County Council have fallen after the local authority alters the way it fixes potholes, according to the Northampton Chronicle.

The council launched the Highways Maintenance Initiative (NHMI) in April 2010 to change the way it repaired roads after a succession of severe winters increased the county’s pothole problem.

In the 12 months before the initiative the council received 880 claims for pothole-related damages. This fell 47% to 465 claims in the following year, with a further 53% fall for the year ending April 2012.

Director of environment and transport Tony Ciaburr said the initiative has been a success, but that further work was needed. He said: “Despite the success of NHMI, there are still many roads that have gone beyond the point where preventative type treatments are effective and these will require significant investment.”