A North London council has paid out more than £200,000 in compensation for accident and injury claims caused by potholes and pavement defects since 2020, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed. The highest annual pay out came in 2022, when Harrow Council settled claims totalling more than £75,000. The council has committed to more than double its investment in roads and pavements over the next year. When councils are found to have failed to provide a duty of care in pedestrian areas, it can result in them having to fork out thousands of pounds for successful injury claims. Accidents are caused by a range of issues, including uneven surfaces and potholes.

Over the past five years, Harrow Council has paid out on 30 separate claims relating to all types of pedestrian accidents – including in parks, leisure centres and car parks – with the compensation packages totalling £202,846.86. The figures were obtained following an FOI submitted by accident and personal injury advisors, Accident Claims Advice. Of the total 231 pedestrian accident claims, the most frequent made against Harrow Council were for pavement defects, which were made 182 times during this period. The next most common claim was for carriageway defects, against which 24 claims were submitted. The FOI reveals that 13 per cent of the claims against Harrow were successful – 5 per cent more than the national average of 8 per cent.

Councils and local authorities are required to ensure the safety of people using public spaces, such as parks, highways and footpaths by making sure they are properly maintained. If they fail to do this, the council can be sued for any injuries or accidents that occur as a result. In order for someone to claim, they must prove that the local council or authority breached its duty of care and that this directly caused the injury. People with disabilities or mobility issues are particularly affected by cracked and uneven pavements, pathways, and parks.

Harrow resident and Chair of Inclusion London, a pan-London Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation, Adam Gabsi, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Across Harrow, poorly maintained street spaces are creating serious barriers for disabled people. Uneven pavements, broken slabs, blocked pathways, and inadequate dropped kerbs make it difficult, if not impossible, for wheelchair users, visually impaired people, and those with mobility aids to navigate safely.”.

He added: “These hazards increase the risk of injury, limit independence, and exclude disabled people from fully participating in their communities. Harrow must take urgent action to ensure its streets are accessible, safe, and inclusive for everyone.”. In 2020, 45 claims were made against Harrow – the second-lowest number over the past five years – which resulted in nine claims being paid totalling £73,168.14. A further £24,792.62 was paid out in 2021 after five out of 46 claims were successful. Then 2022 saw the highest total amount paid out – £77,290.90 – after payouts were awarded in nine of the 48 claims made.

After that, 2023 saw the highest number of claims made against the council (59), however, only seven were successful and totalled £27,595.20. The same year, a group of residents complained that a stretch of road on Village Way had ‘badly deteriorated’ to the point their homes would ‘vibrate’ when large vehicles drove over the cracks. Whilst there were a further 34 claims made in 2024, none were successful. Harrow Council puts this down to the increased financial investment it has made in tackling the issues quicker and more effectively. Last year, the borough’s 457.4km of road network and 935.1km of footways were assessed for damage, with the worst prioritised for repair first.

A spokesperson for Harrow Council told the LDRS: “We know potholes are a real issue for motorists and pedestrians and it’s a key priority for us. It’s why we are more than doubling our investment from £6m to £14m (a total of £42m over the next three years) to make our roads and pavements safer.”. They added: “This is a long-term investment that puts our residents first. We’re delivering this by using new technology like the pothole pro and thermal road repair machines which deliver long lasting repairs and prevent further deterioration of the road network – and our pothole squad is finding and fixing potholes quickly.