Ealing Council hit by rising pothole complaints

More than 50 compensation claims for pothole damage have been made to Ealing Council since 2022, with only a few resulting in payouts, according to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request.

While few claims resulted in compensation being paid, the FOI response revealed that overall council spending on pothole repairs in the borough fell from £502,886 in 2023/24 to £302,889 in 2024/25.

According to figures obtained by EALING.NEWS from Personal Injury Claims UK, the Labour-run council received a total of 55 pothole-related claims between 2022/23 and 2024/25.

In total, ten claims were made in 2022, 24 in 2023 and 21 in 2024. The FOI response also showed that only a small number of these claims were successful, with compensation payments totalling £424 in 2022, £142 in 2023 and none recorded in 2024.

Potholes form when water seeps into cracks in the road surface and expands during freezing conditions, weakening the tarmac. According to experts, the problem is made worse by poor drainage, ageing asphalt and damage caused by utility works.

Speaking to EALING.NEWS, Ealing Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Gary Malcolm, said: “Liberal Democrats say that if it is a top council priority then why are so many streets left with potholes for so long. Potholes affect all form of transport whether it be cars, cycles and buses so the Liberal Democrats say that Labour-run Ealing Council need to be better at preventing potholes and fixing the more serious ones quicker.”

The FOI response also revealed that as of 15 August 2025, 26 potholes across the borough remained unrepaired, all of which were reported that month and were still within the council’s 30-day repair timeframe. The highest number was recorded on Carlton Road, where eight defects were found, while other affected areas included Greenford Road, Lady Margaret Road, Ruislip Road East, Gurnell Grove and Whitton Avenue West.

The figures come amid growing concern over the state of the UK’s roads. It is estimated that there are more than one million potholes nationwide, which remain among the leading causes of vehicle breakdowns. The government has pledged £1.6 billion to repair local roads by the end of 2026, though motoring organisations have warned that the funding will not be enough to address the backlog.

Patrick Mallon, a solicitor at JF Law, said: “Across the UK, we’ve seen a sharp increase in the number of potholes damaging roads and highways, particularly in the colder, wetter months. These defects might appear minor at first glance, but they can cause significant damage to vehicles, costing hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds to repair. In some cases, particularly for motorcyclists or cyclists, potholes can even lead to serious accidents and injuries.”

The RAC estimates there are around six potholes per mile on local roads in England and Wales. It said it attended 25,758 pothole-related breakdowns in the 12 months to September 2025 – an 11% increase on the previous year – averaging 71 callouts a day.

Speaking to EALING.NEWS, an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “Maintaining and improving the borough’s road network is one of our top priorities and staff have been working hard to keep our roads safe, reliable and fit for purpose.

“Over the last two years we have repaired more than 7,250 potholes – that is an average of 10 potholes every day.

“Ealing Council proactively maintains its roads using advanced data systems to work more efficiently and carry out long-term repairs. We have delivered more than 14km in 2023 and 10.5km in 2024 of preventative maintenance, resurfacing and structural maintenance, and introduced sustainable materials and techniques for longer-lasting repairs.

“In addition, in May, Ealing Council was given its biggest ever funding boost by the government – £945,000 – to tackle the borough’s pothole problem. Half the money is being spent on a new ‘drive and repair’ programme, which includes daily patrols that will fix potholes immediately. The other half is being used to supplement resurfacing works on key roads including the Lido Junction in West Ealing and the A40/Argyle Road junction in Perivale.”