COMPENSATION paid to drivers has tumbled by almost 75 per cent since the launch of a drive to make Surrey’s roads more ‘pothole-proof’, according to figures released by the county council.

Cash paid out for vehicle damage fell by more than £400,000 during the first two years of the scheme to build 300 miles of roads that come with a 10-year guarantee.

In 2012/13 – the year before Surrey County Council’s five-year Operation Horizon programme hit the road – the council paid out more than £550,000. By the end of 2014/15, the amount spent settling claims had plummeted to less than £147,000.

The reduction in compensation may also be a result of two relatively mild winters, however, coming off the back of an exceptionally cold winter in 2012/13.

John Furey, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for highways, renewed calls for Surrey to benefit from the new roads fund from Vehicle Excise Duty unveiled in the last Budget in the wake of the findings.

He said: “Operation Horizon is all about trying to solve the problem of potholes once and for all and while these figures are really encouraging the government needs to act to ensure Surrey benefits from this new fund.

“That is especially the case given that local drivers generate £80 million more a year in Vehicle Excise Duty than they ever get back for the county’s highways and government funding for our roads is falling by £1 million annually despite the number of miles driven on them every year rising by 100 million since 2010.”