THE county council will debate whether to ask central government for more cash to repair the potholes on Oxfordshire's roads.

Councillor Mark Cherry claimed it is unacceptable key repairs across the county are left unfunded simply because Oxfordshire County Council has too little cash to pay for them.

Next week he will formally request that council leader Ian Hudspeth asks the Department of Transport for more funding to keep the county’s roads in tip-top shape.

The Banbury Ruscote representative said: “I have got a lot of issues with the roads. In the division I represent I've noticed the roads have deteriorated since I was elected as a county councillor in 2013.

"The disparity of what’s needed to get them into shape and the funding the County Council gets after the cuts over the years is not sustainable.

“It’s going to get increased compensation claims and (getting more money from government is) the only way to get the roads sorted.”

As the Oxford Mail revealed last month, the local authority has shelled out nearly £42,000 in less than two years to pay drivers who had their cars damaged by driving into potholes. It had shelled out £25,653 in 2016 and by August had paid out £16,043 to annoyed drivers.

In one case, it paid £1,827.91 to a motorist whose vehicle was badly damaged on the B4526 in South Oxfordshire.

But the Department for Transport has already said it has spent millions giving councils money to make sure their roads are in a good state – including £2.3m this year to patch up potholes.

My Cherry added: “Every county councillor sees them, especially those in rural areas – they’re probably worse there.

“I can remember when I was a pupil at William Morris School, the roads were given a couple of top coats every couple of years. It doesn’t work like that now.”

Other large sums paid out by the authority to drivers in 2016 included £1,739 and £1,725 after damage was caused on South Oxfordshire roads.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Paul Smith said last month: “There is nothing unique or unusual about Oxfordshire in terms of claims relating to pothole damage or potholes in general. This is a national situation. As is the case with all councils each claim is considered on its individual merits.”

Mr Cherry’s motion reads: "Oxfordshire County Council Highways Department needs at least £165 million pounds to get Oxfordshire roads fit for purpose. Unfortunately though, it has to work with a highways budget for Oxfordshire roads of around £20 million a year.

“Council asks the leader of Oxfordshire County Council write to the Minister for Transport to ask that he give urgent consideration to the importance of extra funding for our failing roads in Oxfordshire.”

The council will vote on the motion at a meeting at County Hall in Oxford next Tuesday.