BARNSLEY Council has paid out almost £100,000 in pothole compensation to disgruntled motorists in the town over the last five years.

A Freedom of Information request, seen by the Chronicle, shows the number of compensation claims that were made and subsequently paid out by the council between 2020 and 2025.

Locals are able to make a claim against the council if they are able to prove in civil law that they have been negligent and/or breached their statutory duty.

Even though an incident may have happened, it doesn’t mean that the council are liable (lawfully responsible).

If they feel that they’ve not been negligent, they are able to defend the claim.

Locals have the right to make a claim for compensation but this doesn’t mean they have an automatic entitlement to be compensated.

The data shows that between 2020 and 2025, a total of 785 claims were made against Barnsley Council in regards to pothole complaints.

Of those, less than half 300 were paid out.

In 2023/24 there were 259 compensation claims made against the local authority but only 73 were paid out.

A year earlier when there were 234 claims made, a huge 122 were successful the highest amount in the five-year period.

The lowest number of claims was made in 2020/21 91 which was during the Covid pandemic.

Throughout the five-year period, a total of £89,150 was paid out to residents who submitted a claim.

In 2022/23 almost £30,000 was paid out to locals, a similar figure was handed out a year later.

A separate FOI shows that between 2021 and 2024 there were 6,872 potholes reported to the council.

But the council repaired thousands more during the same period.

Matt O’Neill, executive director for place, told the Chronicle: “Pothole claims are looked at carefully on a case-by-case basis.

“Compensation is assessed in line with the council’s legal responsibilities for maintaining the roads.

“In many cases, claims are not upheld where the council has taken reasonable steps to inspect, maintain and repair the road.

“We repair potholes when they pose an immediate risk.

“This usually happens where full resurfacing isn’t possible due to weather conditions, or where repairs are needed to reduce disruption on the road network.

“This year, we’re investing over £18m in Barnsley’s roads, footways, drainage systems and more.

“This significant investment, coupled with extra money for immediate pothole repairs, will deliver lasting improvements to keep our roads safe, resilient and fit for the future.”