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Potholes cost motorist £1,000
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| LARGE BILL: Paul Smith is angry after huge potholes in Hill Hayes Lane, Hullavington, twice ripped the tyres on his Volkswagen Touran to pieces |
FURIOUS driver Paul Smith is considering taking legal action against Wiltshire County Council after huge potholes in the road damaged his car and left him nearly £1,000 out of pocket.
Mr Smith's £12,000 Volks-wagen Touran has suffered costly damage twice in the last fortnight.
The first incident was two weeks ago on Hill Hayes Lane in Hullavington when his front tyre burst after driving through the pothole, and the rear tyre was left with a large bulge in it.
Then on Saturday he hit another pothole, which he says instantly burst the front tyre. His rear tyre has also gone down.
He said: "Put it this way, if a motorcyclist hit those holes they'd be killed, they are that bad.
"I could not believe my bad luck when it happened again. I have been driving 30 years and have never had a puncture. Then to get two in a fortnight is a joke.
"The council is now going to send me the forms to claim for damages.
"Why should I have to pay for it when it's not my fault?
"It's going to cost me £750 minimum, it could well hit £1,000."
Mr Smith, who lives in The Street in Hullavington, was left without a car over the Bank Holiday weekend after the second incident.
Both sets of repairs have cost £164.38 a time and now Mr Smith says he has to pay a further £450 for new alloy wheels, which were badly dented.
He said: "The second time I had five passengers in the car and as my car is a VW Touran we do not have a spare tyre.
"We were unable to get the car home and it was abandoned at the side of the road.
"I have re-inflated the rear tyre. However we were unable to get a fitter out to replace the tyres for several days, as it is Easter. As a consequence we were without a car for four days as a result of the very poor state of the roads in the area."
He added: "I have been back and looked at the hole in the road. The hole is 1.5 metres long and just under a metre wide and 140 mm deep. The road is 2.7 metres wide. No wonder it has destroyed two wheels and tyres.
"There are many other holes in this road and I feel it is in such a serious state that the road should be closed until repairs are carried out."
A spokesman for Wiltshire County Council said: "The safety of all of road users is important to Wiltshire County Council and we work hard to make sure any road defects are addressed quickly and appropriately. We are responsible for maintaining 2738 miles of roads and have to prioritise our repair programme.
"We would encourage anyone who has concerns about a particular road surface to contact our freephone highways line, CLARENCE, on 0800 232323."
2:29pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: qwerty38, wiltshire on 3:04pm Thu 27 Mar 08
i think the potholes & very large ditches along the side of the road need looking at before theirs more acidents all the road tax we pay ???
i think the potholes & very large ditches along the side of the road need looking at before theirs more acidents all the road tax we pay ???
Posted by: Anon emouse, Around and about on 5:03pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Your not the only one in the area to recieve damage from the poor road conditions.
What ever happened to Cat's eyes as well and good clear road markings.
Where does are Car Tax go, especiall on a 4x4 VW must be around £400 a year now
Your not the only one in the area to recieve damage from the poor road conditions.
What ever happened to Cat's eyes as well and good clear road markings.
Where does are Car Tax go, especiall on a 4x4 VW must be around £400 a year now
Posted by: §torm, Trowbridge on 5:29pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I am in exactly the same situation having just also suffered nearly £1000 of damage to my own vehicle from a very large pothole. I am in the process of trying to get mine repaired, but have been told i must spend the money up front before i can even submit a claim, let alone be informed i can get my money back. I am in the process of contesting this, as i do not have £1000, and i am most unhappy.
I am in exactly the same situation having just also suffered nearly £1000 of damage to my own vehicle from a very large pothole. I am in the process of trying to get mine repaired, but have been told i must spend the money up front before i can even submit a claim, let alone be informed i can get my money back. I am in the process of contesting this, as i do not have £1000, and i am most unhappy.
Posted by: grumpyoldcynic, Chippenham on 6:54pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Me too - I've just paid £1,000 to have my Fiesta's near-side steering rack replaced (amongst other maintenance tasks) but the consensus is that this specific damage may have been caused by the poor condition of our local roads. Council tax has doubled since it was introduced, but the only visual benefits seem to be larger and more splendid council offices (and more parking wardens). For an 'off-road' driving experience, try Marshfield Road in Chippenham, from the West End Club to Chippenham Football Club! Bumpity bumpity BUMP!
Me too - I've just paid £1,000 to have my Fiesta's near-side steering rack replaced (amongst other maintenance tasks) but the consensus is that this specific damage may have been caused by the poor condition of our local roads. Council tax has doubled since it was introduced, but the only visual benefits seem to be larger and more splendid council offices (and more parking wardens). For an 'off-road' driving experience, try Marshfield Road in Chippenham, from the West End Club to Chippenham Football Club! Bumpity bumpity BUMP!
Posted by: dk1471, Chippenham on 7:28pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I agree with the last post, worst road condition ever is along Marshfield Road and Bristol Road. I also agree with an earlier comment about Cat eyes, Cat eyes help in severe weather and at night time to be able to see where the road goes. Not many areas apart from Motorways where cat eyes are regularly maintain and clean!
I agree with the last post, worst road condition ever is along Marshfield Road and Bristol Road. I also agree with an earlier comment about Cat eyes, Cat eyes help in severe weather and at night time to be able to see where the road goes. Not many areas apart from Motorways where cat eyes are regularly maintain and clean!
Posted by: pachyderm, in a layby (flat tyre,no petrol) on 8:15pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I'm not sure what proportion of either Road Tax or Council Tax is spent on maintaining good,safe road surfaces.
I suspect this %age goes down the more money is collected from us. As for petrol tax.....it may not have gone up in this budget.... but most of the £5 / gal has to be tax.
$100 / barrel = £1 / gal
I'm not sure what proportion of either Road Tax or Council Tax is spent on maintaining good,safe road surfaces.
I suspect this %age goes down the more money is collected from us. As for petrol tax.....it may not have gone up in this budget.... but most of the £5 / gal has to be tax.
$100 / barrel = £1 / gal
Posted by: AndrewLye, Pembrokeshire on 10:47pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I saw some of the awful road surfaces in Wiltshire, when I was there last week-end. There were some awful surfaces and they didn't even have markings around them to suggest they may be repaired in the immediate future. This was on the A360 between West Lavington and Devizes. But there were other roads in the North and West Wiltshire areas, as well as Kennet.
The Council should not have to count on the public as surely they employ staff to go out checking where urgent repairs are required.
I saw some of the awful road surfaces in Wiltshire, when I was there last week-end. There were some awful surfaces and they didn't even have markings around them to suggest they may be repaired in the immediate future. This was on the A360 between West Lavington and Devizes. But there were other roads in the North and West Wiltshire areas, as well as Kennet.
The Council should not have to count on the public as surely they employ staff to go out checking where urgent repairs are required.
Posted by: Ann, Foxley Road Malmesbury on 8:02am Fri 28 Mar 08
I wish anyone good luck when trying to clain from the council. Last May my son's car hit a pot hole when passing an oncoming car in Foxley Road but the claim was turned down on the grounds that the road was inspected regularly but even after an appeal it was still rejected. These pot holes had been there since December and I had mailed several times to Clarence. Again the road is even worse due to the fact that Kingway Bridge was closed a couple of times for several days due to flooding. We had so much traffic using this road including large lorries and buses. I emailed Clarence again several weeks ago but no action has been taken. Again a friend who was visiting for Easter hit a pot hole one evening which he could not see as it was full of water. His car is new and it completely ruined the tyre. He is claiming but I do not hold much hope for him to be reimbursed. My biggest worry is that this road is part of the Wiltshire Cycleway and is used by many families with young children and I feel that it is an accident to waiting to happen. A child would not stand a chance if their wheel went into any of these deep pot holes. When they do repair some of the holes they just put in loose gravel which after a few days is strewn across the road leaving the pot hole as it was before.
Come on WCC pull out your finger and get something done before there is a tragic accident.
I wish anyone good luck when trying to clain from the council. Last May my son's car hit a pot hole when passing an oncoming car in Foxley Road but the claim was turned down on the grounds that the road was inspected regularly but even after an appeal it was still rejected. These pot holes had been there since December and I had mailed several times to Clarence. Again the road is even worse due to the fact that Kingway Bridge was closed a couple of times for several days due to flooding. We had so much traffic using this road including large lorries and buses. I emailed Clarence again several weeks ago but no action has been taken. Again a friend who was visiting for Easter hit a pot hole one evening which he could not see as it was full of water. His car is new and it completely ruined the tyre. He is claiming but I do not hold much hope for him to be reimbursed. My biggest worry is that this road is part of the Wiltshire Cycleway and is used by many families with young children and I feel that it is an accident to waiting to happen. A child would not stand a chance if their wheel went into any of these deep pot holes. When they do repair some of the holes they just put in loose gravel which after a few days is strewn across the road leaving the pot hole as it was before.
Come on WCC pull out your finger and get something done before there is a tragic accident.
Posted by: The Maxter, Chippenham on 10:10am Fri 28 Mar 08
Hold on - the road is a 'lane'
How fast where you going to hit the hole with sufficient force to 'instantly deflate' the tyre?
And you did it twice?
Hold on - the road is a 'lane'
How fast where you going to hit the hole with sufficient force to 'instantly deflate' the tyre?
And you did it twice?
Posted by: Ann, Malmesbury on 11:20am Fri 28 Mar 08
I did not personally go into any pot holes only my son, who is not a teenager,was going less then 30 MPH, as he was passing another car going in the opposite direction and that was further down the road last May, the friend went into another hole a few days ago and was not travelling fast but the holes are so deep that many people who use this road have had the same problems. If as you say this is a lane, which I would not call it, then why do they let so much traffic use the road when Kingway Bridge is closed especailly lorries who use it as if it is the M4. As I said my biggest worry is the number of children who cycle along the road. I think this should be a priority as far as the WCC should be concerned before someone is killed as happened last year to a young man on a moped in anothe part of the country. I also think there should be a speed limit on all country roads as many people travel along them far too fast. There is a speed limit of 50 MPH almost all the way to Swindon but they can travel 60MPH and above along small raods.
I did not personally go into any pot holes only my son, who is not a teenager,was going less then 30 MPH, as he was passing another car going in the opposite direction and that was further down the road last May, the friend went into another hole a few days ago and was not travelling fast but the holes are so deep that many people who use this road have had the same problems. If as you say this is a lane, which I would not call it, then why do they let so much traffic use the road when Kingway Bridge is closed especailly lorries who use it as if it is the M4. As I said my biggest worry is the number of children who cycle along the road. I think this should be a priority as far as the WCC should be concerned before someone is killed as happened last year to a young man on a moped in anothe part of the country. I also think there should be a speed limit on all country roads as many people travel along them far too fast. There is a speed limit of 50 MPH almost all the way to Swindon but they can travel 60MPH and above along small raods.
Posted by: The Maxter, Chippenham on 1:31pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Was referring to the story Ann, not yourself!
Was referring to the story Ann, not yourself!
Posted by: mjhudston, Chippenham, Wiltshire on 8:09pm Fri 28 Mar 08
There is suggestion that a motorcyclist has been killed and a car driver injured due to a single un-repaired pothole, near Castle Coombe.
One defence for the council, is that heavy and persistant rain, such as we have had, does damage the road and cause potholes, which may not be there one day, and are the next.
There is suggestion that a motorcyclist has been killed and a car driver injured due to a single un-repaired pothole, near Castle Coombe.
One defence for the council, is that heavy and persistant rain, such as we have had, does damage the road and cause potholes, which may not be there one day, and are the next.
Posted by: billy, malmesbury on 11:28am Sat 29 Mar 08
You should a push bike on these roads the pot holes are shocking.
You should a push bike on these roads the pot holes are shocking.
Posted by: grumpyoldcynic, Chippenham on 6:05pm Sun 30 Mar 08
Totally amazing coincidence, or the power of the press prevails - you decide! Notices have just gone up around Chippenham to say that the A420 between Park Lane and Hungerdown Lane (ie Marshfield Road & Bristol Road) will be closed from 7th April for 12 days - looks like, sounds like, feels like, could it be..... that they're going to re-surface???? Twenty years of riding over a ploughed field, one letter to the Gets Worse and BINGO!!!
I am impressed!!
Totally amazing coincidence, or the power of the press prevails - you decide! Notices have just gone up around Chippenham to say that the A420 between Park Lane and Hungerdown Lane (ie Marshfield Road & Bristol Road) will be closed from 7th April for 12 days - looks like, sounds like, feels like, could it be..... that they're going to re-surface???? Twenty years of riding over a ploughed field, one letter to the Gets Worse and BINGO!!!
I am impressed!!
Posted by: The Maxter, Chippenham on 2:46pm Mon 31 Mar 08
Well that means they'll dig it up. Doesnt mean they'll resurface it properly!!
Well that means they'll dig it up. Doesnt mean they'll resurface it properly!!
Posted by: spooks, calne on 8:12pm Tue 1 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Ann[/bold] wrote:
I did not personally go into any pot holes only my son, who is not a teenager,was going less then 30 MPH, as he was passing another car going in the opposite direction and that was further down the road last May, the friend went into another hole a few days ago and was not travelling fast but the holes are so deep that many people who use this road have had the same problems. If as you say this is a lane, which I would not call it, then why do they let so much traffic use the road when Kingway Bridge is closed especailly lorries who use it as if it is the M4. As I said my biggest worry is the number of children who cycle along the road. I think this should be a priority as far as the WCC should be concerned before someone is killed as happened last year to a young man on a moped in anothe part of the country. I also think there should be a speed limit on all country roads as many people travel along them far too fast. There is a speed limit of 50 MPH almost all the way to Swindon but they can travel 60MPH and above along small raods.[/quote] The speed limets for a country road is 50 mph unless otherwise stated.
www.calnetalk.com
Ann wrote:
I did not personally go into any pot holes only my son, who is not a teenager,was going less then 30 MPH, as he was passing another car going in the opposite direction and that was further down the road last May, the friend went into another hole a few days ago and was not travelling fast but the holes are so deep that many people who use this road have had the same problems. If as you say this is a lane, which I would not call it, then why do they let so much traffic use the road when Kingway Bridge is closed especailly lorries who use it as if it is the M4. As I said my biggest worry is the number of children who cycle along the road. I think this should be a priority as far as the WCC should be concerned before someone is killed as happened last year to a young man on a moped in anothe part of the country. I also think there should be a speed limit on all country roads as many people travel along them far too fast. There is a speed limit of 50 MPH almost all the way to Swindon but they can travel 60MPH and above along small raods.
The speed limets for a country road is 50 mph unless otherwise stated.
www.calnetalk.com
Posted by: Paul Tucker, Real world (not 'spooks' world) on 10:26am Thu 3 Apr 08
Not so.
See http://www.direct.go
v.uk
/en
/TravelAndTransport
/Highwaycode
/DG_070304
Not so.
See http://www.direct.go
v.uk
/en
/TravelAndTransport
/Highwaycode
/DG_070304
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