More than 70 potholes were repaired on average every day in Dundee last year costing taxpayers almost £350,000.
Statistics published by the city council reveal that 73 potholes were repaired every day in 2013-14 the equivalent of three potholes an hour.
But fewer than 4,000of those were repairedpermanently, with the more difficult craters taking an average of more than 18 days to fix.
Dundee councillor Fraser Macphersonsaid the figures were “extremely disappointing” and demanded greater investment in road maintenance.
The figures, which reveal that repairing potholes cost the Dundee taxpayer £348,957, show thatthe number of pothole repairs being undertaken has risen from 8291 in 2008-09 to 26,638 in 2013-14.
The Road Maintenance Partnership annual performance report also shows that the number of permanent repairs beingconducted has fallen by 10% since 2011-12 meaning just 15% of potholes are given a lasting fix.
Mr Macpherson, who represents the West End ward for the Lib Dems,said: “These figures are extremelydisappointing.
“One of the biggest gripes constituents have is potholes being fixed and then, two weeks later,reappearing.
“We need stronginvestment to ensure that lasting repairs can be made.The state of the roads is getting worse not better and this has to change.”
The report, authored by city development director Mike Galloway, indicates that the rising number of potholes appears to have been halted in the 2014-15 financial year.
Mr Galloway said: “Pothole repairscontinue to be an important focus for the partnership both in terms of the quality of the repair and the speed of the repair depending on its priority category andlocation.
“Records show that in comparison to the same period over the last three years,pothole repair numbers reached a peak in 2013-14 of 26,638. Current indications are that in 2014-15, this increasing trend has stopped.
“Compared to the same period in2013-14, pothole numbers have reduced by 35% to 6,359.
“There are a number of factors that could be attributed to this reduction includinga reasonably mild winter in 2012-13 (although significantly wetter), improved performance of first time permanent repairs and the benefits of increased capital investment over the previous two years.
“The key corporate service planobjective of maintaining the National Road Condition Indicator (RCI) at 27.7% has been achieved.
“All targets in relation to pothole repairs for priority categories 1, 2 and 3 have been achieved.
“Average repair times have remained similar over the three-year period, with the exception of category 3’s taking approximately 10 days longer to repair due to the strategy of ensuring more first-time permanent repairs are carried out.
“The focus going forward is to continue improving the quality of repairs and further increase the number of permanent repairs carried out first time. As a well-established practice, the thermal patching process has assisted in this area.”A cash pitFour-thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire, were, according to John Lennon, enough to fill the Albert Hall, writes motoring editor Jack McKeown.
If that’s the case then the 27,000 potholes fixed in Dundee last year would pack the Caird Hall even more tightly than The Beatles did when they played there in 1964.
For far too many of us, a typical day in the life involves being marauded by these missing scoops of tarmac.
A survey released by the RAC last month found potholes are damaging one car every 11 minutes. Across Britain nearly 50,000 drivers made a claim last year for damage caused by hitting a pothole.
However, local authorities paid out in less than a quarter of cases.
Cause for concern is that Dundee City Council admits 4,000 of its repairs are not up to scratch and the craters will reappear.
I also fear for two-wheeled commuters.
Potholes can damage cars but destroy bicycles and seriously harm their riders.