Published 19/10/2026 By William Turtle-Clark

Herefordshire Council has logged a sharp increase in pothole reports this year, with figures rising to more than three times the total recorded for the whole of 2025.

In response to a Freedom of Information request, the local authority revealed that 9,313 potholes have been logged so far in 2026. This compares to 2,967 reports in 2025 and 1,641 in 2024, with figures encompassing both public reports and routine inspections carried out by council contractors.

The data also shows a marked rise in compensation paid to motorists for vehicle damage caused by road defects. Between January and August 2026, the council paid out on 16 per cent of claims, up from 5.75 per cent in 2025. Total payout costs climbed from £5,688.57 in 2025 to £31,080.26 by August of this year, with the highest single payout reaching £3,718.22 for damage to a BMW 520d.

The council confirmed it does not employ external legal teams to defend against vehicle damage claims.

Despite the jump in logged defects and successful damage claims, overall spending on pothole repairs has remained broadly stable over recent financial years. Council figures show expenditure stood at £3.3 million in 2023/24, rising to £4.06 million in 2024/25, before settling at £3.44 million in 2025/26.

Herefordshire Council did not provide a comment explaining the underlying causes behind the rise in reported defects and payouts.