Winter weather causes road repairs worth £10 billion
Britain's roads are now sporting thousands of potholes after two cold winters, which means they are in need of billions of pounds in repairs.
The number of holes has leapt by almost 60 per cent after the two icy winters, experts have stated.
The number is estimated to be 1.6million in England and Wales, making life a misery, with increased car accidents, vehicle damages and personal injury.
With the average cost of filling a pothole put at £70, the government now faces repairs worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
The total cost of ensuring that every hole is filled would be £10billion, according the Asphalt Industry Alliance, the trade body for road menders.
The Local Government Association has already requested the Department of Transport to seek £100million in emergency funding.
The association represents councils in England and Wales, and requested the said advance to help pay for the most urgent repairs.
One industry expert said the 'sharp increase' had triggered a corresponding rise in compensation claims for road users involved in car accidents, who had suffered injury or damaged vehicles, as a result of pothole-related accidents.
Updated on 08/02/2010