The number of insurance claims against the council from motorists in Bury whose vehicles were damaged by potholes has seen a steep decline.
Figures published by Bury Council show that in the year April 2020 to March 2021 there were 234 claims made against the council, down from 351 in 2019/20.
The reduction continues a declining trend in recent years seen even before the pandemic struck, from a high of 623 claims in 2017/18.
In 2018/19 there 463 such claims.
No details on amount paid out in successful claims was published.
The figures were published in a report on highways investment to Bury Council’s cabinet which also revealed which roads in the borough due to be resurfaced over the next 16 months.
The report said: “Highway related insurance claim numbers have fallen steadily since 2017/18.
“The reduction in highway insurance claims received cannot be solely attributed to road resurfacing investment.
“Many factors have contributed to the reduction in insurance claims including, implementing a formal policy for highway safety inspections in accordance with the national code of practice and Greater Manchester frameworks, improved logistics and systems of work, reduced traffic flows during the pandemic and the use of innovative repair techniques such as spray injection patch repairs.”
The report said that in the past six years years Bury Council have invested around £23M in resurfacing, planned patching and preventative maintenance with more being spent on repairing potholes.
However the report said that those funding streams were not enough to head of a decline in road standards.
It said: “To maintain a steady state, around £30 to 36M would have been needed to stop any fall in average condition.
“Hence, in the six-year period we will have had £10M worth of deterioration despite our best efforts.”
The programme of resurfacing works for the next 16 months will see £5M invested in road resurfacing.
Among roads listed for surface upgrades are Albert Street Ramsbottom, Tor Avenue, Ramsbottom, Bury Old Road Radcliffe, Walmersley Road, Ramsbottom James Street North, Radcliffe, Hall Street, Ramsbottom,
Cross Lane, Radcliffe, Pilkington Way and New Road, Radcliffe, Bolton Road, Radcliffe and The Rock in Bury town centre.
Other resurfacing projects are planned for Moorway, Ramsbottom, Westgate Avenue, Ramsbottom, Buckingham Drive, Bury West, West Avenue, Whitefield, Bass Lane, Ramsbottom, Bury Bridge Ring Road, Rochdale Old Road in Bury East and the A56 Manchester Road.
