IF there’s a pothole problem it is always good to know someone’s looking into it. But the only question that matters to motorists is when the darned thing will be filled.

On the very day that the AA announced the results of a survey saying that four in five drivers think the condition of our roads has deteriorated in the past three years, the Echo tells the story of a Ferndown mum facing a £300 bill after accidentally driving over a pothole in Bournemouth.

And every motorist will see the size of that bill and say “ouch”.

While it’s reassuring to know that the Chancellor announced in his recent Budget that Dorset’s to get an extra £2,712,026 to maintain its roads, plus Bournemouth £322,000 and Poole £282,000, that’s not much use if you are about to go over one of the potholes peppering the roads today. Potholes are not only a pain to motorists but an even bigger risk to road-users like cyclists.

As we know, all councils are penny-pinching right now but these holes can be dangerous and can’t be ignored. But it doesn’t come cheap.

The Asphalt Industry Alliance has estimated that local authorities will need £10 billion to get their roads back into reasonable condition.

And, on average, each council filled in about 16,000 potholes last year at a cost of £53.81 per hole.

If that is the hole truth, whatever their road repair contingency funds may be,all councils will have to work out a means to find enough dosh to do a job that is necessaryfor people’s safety, never mind their car repair bills.

If they don’t, we’ll all be in be for a pretty rough ride.