How bad are potholes in Birmingham?

Like most major metropolitan areas, Birmingham isn’t the easiest city for drivers. Amongst the worst of nightmares for drivers generally are potholes and illegal parking - in fact the city council paid out over £74,000 in compensation for potholes since 2019. I ask Brummies the biggest problems for drivers in the city.

We also suggest that with all the problems facing drivers at the minute, and with the push to get people onto public transport, are Brummies ready to ditch their cars - and what should the government do to support them?

Micheal says: “I think from what I can see around Birmingham, Birmingham City Council need to get into the nooks and crannies and find where these potholes are. They’ve been sitting there for years, causing all sorts of crazy accidents - from experience I might add. And yeah, get into the nooks and crannies and do what you’ve been paid for. Let’s fill these potholes in to make our roads clean and safe.​​”

Raymond says: “Birmingham City Council should probably be filling the potholes anyway. Or striving to fill them. And then people’s cars wouldn’t get damaged and they wouldn’t have to pay any claims. £74,000 doesn’t seem a lot does it? I bet there’s a lot more out there who haven’t claimed who have got damage to their cars or damage to their bikes. I feel sorry for the guys on bicycles, on scooters and stuff, because if they hit a pothole, the damage can be a lot worse than if a car that is grounded with four wheels on the road.“

Tariq says: “Maybe offer discounts for people who are on income support or Universal Credit or things like that. Offer discounts on transport. I would say in an ideal world, discounts on affording petrol but maybe that’s not possible because it’s private, but like offering ways where, okay, we see the situation that you’re struggling with.

“Here’s some support that can help you pay for costs of driving or help you to get onto public transport or something like that. Something that comes out monthly that people get through the post that is like, okay, this is just going to make my life a little bit easier with all the costs after paying for other things.”