NEARLY 30,000 complaints have been raised about the number of potholes across Hampshire in the last twelve months.

More than 29,610 queries and complaints were lodged with Hampshire County Council from 2018/2019, according to a Freedom of Information request.

Figures showed the authority received significantly more complaints than its neighbouring councils in Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight who received an additional 2,336 queries in the past year.

Nationally, 700,000 complained were recorded with almost £1billion spent fixing damaged roads in 2018/19 and around £2million paid out in compensation to claimants.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), who have written a report on the subject, said potholes were a major blight and were affecting businesses.

The report revealed that local authorities across the country receive a query about sorting out a road issue every 46 seconds and also showed that the South Central area had the fourth largest amount of issues raised of any region in the country.

Mike Cherry, chairman of FSB, said: “Potholes are a major concern for the nation’s small businesses. Our members rely heavily on the local road network, with their staff, customers and trade deliveries, dependent on fast and efficient road networks.

“Poorly looked-after roads peppered with holes and cracks not only hamper their ability to do business, but lead to damaged vehicles, which are often vital assets to small firms often working without large capital reserves.

“These figures show just how widespread the issue is and it’s clear that governments, both national and local, need to sit up and take notice. Measures like more funding for local authorities and improving the coordination between authorities and utility companies, will go some way in helping ease the burden of this ever-growing issue.”