THE number of claims made by motorists for damage by potholes on Oxfordshire’s roads has dropped by more than a third, new figures show.

In 2013-14, there were 884 claims to Oxfordshire County Council – of which 266 were successful.

Last year the number dropped to 568 – with 115 successful.

The figures from the RAC Foundation revealed the amount of compensation paid out to drivers for damage was £28,237 in 2014-15 – down from £67,899 the previous year.

The county council, which deals with damage claims, said the drop could have been down to milder weather.

But motorists have said the “hassle” of claiming compensation is why fewer people are appealing against the rulings.

Former taxi driver Richard Barlow, from Kidlington, said despite fewer claims being made, the roads in Oxfordshire were still “disgusting”.

One of the reasons the 63-year-old gave up his career was that he had had enough of dealing with the numerous potholes while driving.

He added: “I hit a pothole the other day where I live in Kidlington. As a taxi driver there was some damage caused by the roads, but I never claimed because you have to provide a witness and provide evidence and it takes a lot of time.

“You need to prove that a pothole did that damage to your car, which is difficult.”

Colin Stanton, manager at East Oxford Garage, said it was hard to track whether problems with cars were as a result of potholes, but said they did deal with quite a lot of broken springs.

He added: “We do a lot of MOTs and find broken coil springs. Those can be caused by speed humps, potholes. Some of the roads are quite bad in Oxford.

“We get quite a few cars with broken springs and it could be because they are under greater stress on the roads these days.”

Chairman of campaign group Cyclox, Simon Hunt, said the drop in claims did not mean the roads were safer for cyclists.

He added: “There are parts where the roads have been improved but there are some parts where potholes might be safe for vehicles but not safe for cyclists.”

Oxfordshire County Council said the number of claims linked to potholes varies year to year.

Spokesman Paul Smith added: “The potential reason for a recent national decline was that the most recent winter was not as wet or cold as winters in previous years.”

Mark Morrell, known as Mr Pothole, has built a reputation for tackling potholes. He said the drop in the number of claims was due to drivers being put off having to fill out forms and go through a process that can take a long time.

People can claim compensation if their vehicle has been damaged or if they have been injured after hitting a pothole.

The county council has a legal duty to maintain roads under the Highways Act 1980. It will only pay out if it has been negligent or failed to meet this duty.

The council’s standard claim form advises drivers the majority of claims are rejected and that the investigation can take “some time”.

And the authority also states if a pothole has not been notified to the council they would not be liable to pay out.

Mr Morrell, who is currently investigating Witney’s roads, added: “A culture has developed over the past few years whereby the council has increased the number of claims it rejects, with only 20 per cent being successful compared to 30 per cent last year, but also that the whole process of claiming compensation can be tortuous.

“People can wait over a year to find out if they have a successful claim, which if they work and are busy they change their mind and pay it.

“If the bill for the damage is about £70 or £80, then they decide to take the hit and tell family and friends that there’s no point in claiming.

“Word then spreads round about the claiming and it becomes an urban myth that there’s no point in claiming. More and more people aren’t even reporting the potholes because it takes so long until they see any change.”

Philip Gomm, an RAC spokesman, said it was good news the number of claims had fallen, but bad news each week that 11 Oxfordshire drivers were still filing bills.

He added: “Those at County Hall have a duty to look after taxpayers’ money but at the same time drivers have a right to claim where they feel the council has fallen short.”