Pothole damage claimants were only successful 16 per cent of the time last year, with SNP cuts to local budgets taking the blame.

The Scottish Conservatives say the “dire condition of our roads is an extremely serious issue” that the Scottish Government should address by introducing Pothole Action Funds.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said there was no money left in his “challenging budget” and pointed to local authorities who make local decisions on road maintenance.

Figures obtained by the Scottish Tories, via Freedom of Information requests to Scotland’s councils, show that just 15.76% of pothole claims were paid out in 2021-22. This low rate is broadly similar to those recorded in 2019-20 (16.3%) and 2020-21 (14.3%).

Potholes cost UK motorists a staggering £4 billion a year in repair costs. And if you’re a cyclist, road defects can literally put you in hospital. Yet in 2019, Audit Scotland reported that there had been a 26% decline in spending on local roads over a five-year period.

The cost of repairing hazards on local roads in Scotland is estimated at almost £2 billion, with more than £1 billion needed for motorways and trunk roads.

Local councils are responsible for the maintenance of all roads in their area – except motorways and trunk roads – in terms of section 1 of the 1984 Roads (Scotland) Act.

Want to see more SNP fails? – Environment Matters