YOUR article regarding the number of potholes on roads does not surprise me, having managed to damage numerous tyres over past few years ("Potholes-a-plenty as 111,000 are reported last year", The Herald, February 21). However, what also does not surprise me is the pathetically small number of claims paid out by local authorities and other maintainers of roads who seem to have a common policy of denying any responsibility for a pothole if you try to claim, using the "pothole not there when inspected" excuse. That excuse is proved to be rubbish when you see pictures in media recently.

For example, Glasgow had 20,172 reported but only £26,236 paid out; that’s just over £1.25 per pothole or, say, 350 tyres at say £75 per tyre (many will cost more than that to replace)

They really need to get their act together and fix them quickly, and have a more honest and fair process for claiming damage back.

Dougie Jardine,

20 Buchlyvie Gardens, Bishopbriggs.