Bid to help cover pothole damage

A SOUTH Yorkshire council is requesting help to cover the cost of potholes caused by severe weather from a Government emergency fund.

Barnsley Council is testing whether the Bellwin Scheme - set up to help compensate councils over emergencies such as floods - will also cover costs incurred during prolonged freezing weather.

Compensation is available to councils which had to take "immediate action to safeguard life or property or to prevent suffering or severe inconvenience" to its inhabitants.

Other South Yorkshire councils are understood to be keeping an eye on Barnsley's request and may mount their own bids under the scheme if the authority is successful.

Sheffield Council estimates potholes caused by the snow and ice will cost between £300,000 and £500,000 to repair and Rotherham Council says damage caused to its roads will cost £200,000.