Pothole damage - how to claim

If you've genuinely sustained damage to a vehicle caused by a pothole on a Wiltshire road you can claim recompense for repair expenses.

Report it using the My Wiltshire online form. Reports can be made anonymously, but it only takes a few minutes to register. Registration is free and once you have joined you can track the reports you have made, even receiving a notification once the work has been completed.

• Register and report online - create an account and track all your reports
• Sign in - login to your account and view any issues you have reported
• Report an issue anonymously - submit without logging in or registering (no tracking of your report will be available)

State that you wish to make a claim for damage to your vehicle.

The council will try to fill the pothole before it does any more damage, and you will be sent a claim form.

Be sure to keep receipts for payments for repairs carried out. If possible take photos of the damage to the vehicle and, if safe to do so, of the pothole.

Should you run into difficulties with the way the council responds to your request, contact your local councillor - details on www.wiltshire.gov.uk

.....................

• According to BBC South, Salisbury has been nominated as the worst place in Britain for potholes by the AA. Congratulations to the Conservative administration for achieving this honour for Wiltshire.

• In the 2009/10 financial year 698 claims were received and 245 conceded with £108,000 paid out. For 2010/11 the figures are incomplete but 360 claims were received, with 123 being dismissed without payment and 87 pay-outs totalling £26,500.

Original article May 2011