Minister Crevits has every reason to wish to divert attention away from the problem. Last week it was announced that Brussels, which is not her responsibility, has a shortfall of at least €10 million in its budget for the repair of potholes, while Antwerp and Ghent, which are, are facing a bill of about €2.5m each.

In Bruges, meanwhile, Jean-Pierre Vanden Berghe, alderman for public works, bemoaned the fact that the only durable solution to his city’s pothole problem is to pour concrete – something it’s impossible for Bruges to do because their heritage policy requires the use of only traditional materials. In this case, that would be cobblestones, which are unfit for the stress of modern-day traffic.

The damage is blamed on the freezing winter weather on top of normal wear and tear, which has caused damage so bad that some sections of road have had to be closed. That does, however, ignore the fact that in places like New York temperatures regularly drop far below what we’re used to in Flanders.

More likely, the problem is a result of long-standing neglect or short-term solutions like the pouring of asphalt on the worst spots instead of full resurfacing. Motoring organisation Touring, whose members have to suffer the bone-shaking effects of the problem, have carried out a study in the Netherlands and Germany to see how our neighbours cope. The results are due to be released in about a month.