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Staggering cost of potholes to UK economy revealed in shock report which demands government fixes UK’s crumbling roads


POTHOLES are costing the economy an estimated £14billion, a report says.

Prangs to cars, accidents caused by the ­craters and consequent congestion all contribute to the whopping bill, experts found.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research has told of the whopping damage that potholes are doing to the UK economy

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The Centre for Economics and Business Research has told of the whopping damage that potholes are doing to the UK economyCredit: Getty

Damage relating to emissions caused by pothole-avoiding speed changes is also a factor, says the Centre for Economics and Business Research.

Douglas McWilliams, the report author, said: “Potholes waste drivers’ time, put cyclists’ lives at risk and damage the environment.

“The government can afford to act. Why doesn’t it?”

Chris Whitwood, standing as Phil Potholes in a Rotherham local election this week, insists people are simply “fed up” with the state of the roads.

He said: “Potholes harm the British economy and it shouldn’t take a genius to realise there is a connection between investing in infrastructure and economic growth.”

A government source said: “We’re investing in the biggest ever funding increase for local road improvements, made possible by £8.3billion of reallocated HS2 funding.

“To make sure councils do a good job, we’re making them publish their completed and planned works.”

The Government previously said that £38million would be spent on improving England’s deadliest roads.

But another report last month found that the potholes repairs backlog reached a record £16.3billion, up from £14billion a year ago.

My road is so full of horrendous potholes I’d rather go to JAIL than pay council tax – I won’t fork out until it’s fixed



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