News RSS Feed


Drivers' fury as pothole payouts rejected

9:30am Friday 12th March 2010 in


NO drivers in Dorset have been compensated for pothole damage this year despite claims rising by up to 300 per cent.

Furious motorists are demanding answers after inquiries revealed Dorset, Poole and Bournemouth councils have not paid out a penny this year.

In the Dorset County Council area there were 218 claims made between November 1 2009 and March 1 2010, with an average claim of £287.

This compares with 110 claims in the previous year, during which three were paid out and 59 claims the year before when five were paid.

Please be very specific about you pothole location

Poole council was informed of 263 carriageway defects in January and February this year and Bournemouth received 690 reports of damage in a 12-week period from December 1 and 18 claims since Christmas.

Angry driver Mark Rylands spent £600 on repairs to his van when the steering and suspension were wrecked when he allegedly drove into a pothole in Acland Road in Charminster. His claim has been refused.

“I had my four-year-old son with me and had to fight the keep the van in control” said Mr Rylands, of Rylands Removals. “My van was off the road for two weeks so I lost business.

“The pothole has since been repaired and I have been told I will not receive any money which is outrageous. I am not looking for financial gain – I just want the money back that I lost because of the state of the road.”

All three councils said they cannot discuss individual claims, which are in the hands of their insurers. A spokesman for Dorset said: “This financial year we have seen around a 35 per cent increase in the number of potholes and other carriageway defects compared to last year – the number of potholes has been severely exacerbated by the freezing conditions experienced during the winter.” He said the most serious potholes are repaired within 32 hours and less urgent damage within 28 days.

Steve Tite of Poole added: “Repairs are undertaken as quickly as possible. Potholes are still forming – there will inevitably be some delay before they are all dealt with. We would ask road users to bear with us and be extra vigilant when using the roads.”

Bournemouth council has recently announced a £2.5 million programme to repair defects to the borough’s roads. This will start next month. A spokesman for the council was unavailable for comment.

Related links


Comments(28)

mikey2gorgeous says...
10:27am Fri 12 Mar 10

Why hasn't Mr Rylands claimed these costs from his insurance policy?

What prevented him from hiring a van to carry on his business.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jobsworthwatch says...
10:46am Fri 12 Mar 10

Our jobsworths were quick to take a £100k off of drivers in Kings Park that passed through a controversial restricted thoroughfare which according to public opinion was simply a council revenue raiser and unnecessary. Yet in this age of health and safety cant be bothered to act with an adequate degree of urgency to ensure roads are safe. No doubt those that are in charge of filling in the pot holes are those that were in charge of the gritting.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

GAHmusic says...
10:57am Fri 12 Mar 10

Is this a situation where the council have a choice? surely this could be pushed through a court for compensation. Its my experience that certain elements within Bournemouth council believe they do not have an obligation to abide by the law.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

BH10et says...
11:11am Fri 12 Mar 10

Claim off your insurance. Surely you must have seen the pothole before hitting it, or driving at such a speed to cause the damage. Due care and attention would have curtailed most if not all damage.

Security Word, loss-earn

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

ukdragon says...
11:59am Fri 12 Mar 10

It's not always a lack of concentration. When it's dark and been raining, some potholes towards the side of the road look like harmless little puddles. I hit one of these, and I wasn't speeding (and I didn't claim! ;) )

However, I do agree that most pot holes can be spotted and avoided if driving appropriately!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

McVICAR says...
1:33pm Fri 12 Mar 10

If any driver tries to avoid all the potholes an eagle eyed copper will probably stop you on suspicion of drink driving.
We already have to keep our eyes open for speed cameras and radar guns, this is just another distraction, before long watching where you are going will be way down the list.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Alternat8 says...
2:20pm Fri 12 Mar 10

The pothole I hit was 59" * 29" and 6 inches deep. On Throop Road, the sun was beaming in my eyes and I was avoiding potholes on the nearside of the road forgetting there would be a crater in the middle of the road. I hit it at 20mph (low profile tyres) means both rights were ripped. WWW.potholes.co.uk, follow the instructions on claiming and be prepared to wait. Freedom of information act, allows you details on how often the roads are checked, so please if we report all the potholes we see then the council will have to start taking responsibility for the roads. For those of you that believe making insurance claims is wise then please don’t complain when your policy goes up year after year due to the shocking conditions of the roads. Really the government should employ some kind of road fund tax !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

mikey2gorgeous says...
2:35pm Fri 12 Mar 10

@Alternate - actually car use in this country is estimated to be subsidised overall to the tune of over £2000 per car per year when all factors are added up.
.
We all pay for the roads through general taxation - how much more do you want everyone (including those who haven't got cars) to pay extra on their council tax for this mega-efficient council service you talk about?
.
If you choose to drive on low profile tyres (which were designed for racing) why should I fork out for your vanity?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

gudmenrmist says...
3:01pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Go into Honestjohn. co. uk then demand to know from the council when the pothole was first reported and if it was not repaired within a reasonable time take them to the small claims court, also put your action on f/book Twitter & Moneysavingexpert.co
m. Ignore the pedestrian comments about claiming of your insurance and lousing up you NO_CLAIMS we pay enough in duty R/Tax and RATES ( we must do our chief ex gets over£3000 A WEEK) to mend our roads, lets have a pavement tax!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Phil67 says...
3:44pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Try riding a bicycle on some of our roads. It's even more fun trying to avoid the pot holes and not get in the way of cars. And yes before anyone starts I do own a car, I do pay tax, I am insured, I do stop at red lights and no I don't cycle on the pavements. I do however have to put up with cars/taxis/buses thinking that cycle lanes are an extra bit of road for them to drive on.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Alternat8 says...
3:49pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Mikey,

My wheels are standard for my car I would have to ask the manufacturer why they deemed them to be the correct size for the car. I was also referring to the car tax, as I believe that is now £950 pounds a year for the new model of my car. Plus the millions they make from the tax they place on running my ego-boosting vehicle. I also happen to ride motorcycles and if I had hit that pothole on my bike it wouldn't be ripped tyres I would be claiming for.

I understand that the council is massively under funded when it comes to road repair but my question is why and please don’t quote the worst winter in decades, its the amount of vehicles and poorly maintained roads. The only equation I see is more vehicles = more money for the government. Hospitals and schools need the money the most but if it costs teachers and nurses hundreds of pounds getting to them who benefits?

Quote from the Asphalt Industry Alliance "This sort of thing doesn’t happen in Scandinavia or France, where they mend the roads properly,” says David Weeks, director of the AIA. “A well-maintained road will withstand snow and ice without a problem. This is a legacy of 25 years of government under funding and the siphoning of road maintenance money into other projects at a town hall level.”

But lets all just put up with it, and all help decide how to spend millions re-modelling the IMAX cinema. After that I’ll help them pick out a new duck house for their London pad.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

X Old Bill says...
4:09pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Low profile tyres - It may be of interest to note that they are fitted as standard on a wide variety of vehicles, and have been for some time.
Included among the many vehicles legally on the road with low profile tyres are such things as 'Smart' city cars and petrol tankers. Neither suited to racing I think.
Motor cycles and pedal cycles in general do not have low profile tyres but the damage caused by hitting an unsighted pothole could be quite significant.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

LocalBalls says...
4:23pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Aside from these terrible potholes, there was a dead fox on the side of Lindsay Road for most of last week. WHEN WILL THIS COUNCIL SORT OUT IT'S DEAD FOXES??!?!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Alternat8 says...
4:53pm Fri 12 Mar 10

even foxes aren't safe from these potholes.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

fedupwithjobsworths says...
5:54pm Fri 12 Mar 10

mikey2gorgeous wrote:
@Alternate - actually car use in this country is estimated to be subsidised overall to the tune of over £2000 per car per year when all factors are added up. . We all pay for the roads through general taxation - how much more do you want everyone (including those who haven't got cars) to pay extra on their council tax for this mega-efficient council service you talk about? . If you choose to drive on low profile tyres (which were designed for racing) why should I fork out for your vanity?
Interestingly enough in the “green” creative accountancy report which claims motorists are subsidised the biggest cost quoted is £19.1bn for congestion – the reason for this congestion is that the government has failed to build adequate roads for the number of cars. For an alternative view I suggest “Transport Watch” where the following figures can be found:
“The Treasury takes close to £50 billion annually from motorists. That is made up of, fuel Excise duty, VAT on fuel, Road Tax, VAT on new cars, company car tax and Insurance Premium tax. £50 billion is equivalent to £2,000 per household. Deducting annual expenditure of circa £9 billion yields a net tax take of £41 bn, corresponding to a net annual take of £1,600 per household.
If the £41 billion is apportioned according to the 32% of all vehicle-miles driven on the strategic road network then that network contributed £13.1 billion to the exchequer. Dividing the £13.1 billion by the 25 million households or the lane lengths (50,000 -55,000 km) or by the flows yields:-
a. Net tax take per household £525
b. Tax take or profit per lane-km, £240,000.
c. Profit per passenger-km, 6 pence.
d. Profit per item-km if passengers and tonnes are combined, 4 pence”.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

3795x says...
5:57pm Fri 12 Mar 10

We live on Alton Road, where one of those potholes pictured above is taken. People think you can avoid them, but there are just so many and parked cars so it is not the case of avoiding one or two, there is a lot of them, we've seen many cars loose control, these cars were going no where near 30mph, and worryingly there is a school just round the corner, with many school children walking to and from school. Also, this area in Poole, is homed to many older people. Surely this needs to be sorted out sooner or later, before a tragic accident does happen?!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Dorset_Born_n_Bread ! says...
6:33pm Fri 12 Mar 10

This sort of thing certainly doesnt happen in Scandinavia. They maintain each damaged road as soon as it becomes a menace danger, its a all yearly round proceddure provided the snow isnt there.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

georgina dean says...
9:17pm Fri 12 Mar 10

one has to feel some sympathy with the council as who would have thought our roads would have disintegrated as they have.......BUT WHY ON EARTH did they persevere with a £850,000 road scheme at holdenhurst road when this could havewaited and the money, men and time been used to fill these wretched holes which have sprung up everywhere.......the
y need to go back to theparking system we had years ago.....even dates park one side odd dates park the other....that way the roads would not be worn out straight down the middle as the whole road would be used.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

lemontree says...
9:55pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Here go the moaning motorists again! A little less speed and a little more attention and most of the "accidents" would be eliminated. If you drive into a pothole it is your fault, just as it would be if you drive through a ford with the stream running high and you are washed down stream. Take more care with your driving and stop trying to take the council for a ride.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Frank2010 says...
10:35pm Fri 12 Mar 10

lemontree wrote:
Here go the moaning motorists again! A little less speed and a little more attention and most of the "accidents" would be eliminated. If you drive into a pothole it is your fault, just as it would be if you drive through a ford with the stream running high and you are washed down stream. Take more care with your driving and stop trying to take the council for a ride.
I gather from your ridiculous comments that you are not a driver. In dark streets, rainy days or sun in your eyes days it is impossible not to drive into a pot hole....there are so many of them.
When I see councils waste thousands and thousands on stupid statues or new signs it is they that are taking us for a ride.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

lemontree says...
11:30pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Hello, Frank 2010, To be perfectly frank with you, I have been driving for nearly 60 years, in many countries. Dark streets, rainy days, sun in your eyes...... just the conditions to be extra vigilant and drive more slowly.But I do agree with you, councils do waste vast amounts of money. N.B. Security word: maps-only!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

2Much...again! says...
12:25am Sat 13 Mar 10

I see the finger pointing brigade is out from under it's rock.
Can't anyone take responsibility anymore?
There's potholes everywhere...good decision by the council..that's not why i pay my taxes!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

gudmenrmist says...
11:59am Sat 13 Mar 10

OK. Lemmingtree how do you see them when snow covered?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

2Much...again! says...
3:05pm Sat 13 Mar 10

gudmenrmist wrote:
OK. Lemmingtree how do you see them when snow covered?
I would think that potholes wouldn't be a high risk driving in the snow as there are other factors..or do you think we should all sue the council for the weather too?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

yankee says...
10:21pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Your insurance should cover this.

You chose to drive; you steered the car into the pothole.

Bad things sometime happen. It's called life.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Nightshade27 says...
8:58pm Sun 14 Mar 10

Please be very specific about you pothole locationWouldn't the snow fill it up?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Nightshade27 says...
8:58pm Sun 14 Mar 10

Please be very specific about you pothole locationWouldn't the snow fill it up?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Alternat8 says...
8:56am Mon 15 Mar 10

My insurance cover does cover damage and I have protected no claims bonus to the tune of 10 years. So making a claim is possible. If all the hundreds of people in Bournemouth did the same and I'm estimating thousands around the country then that should put everyone’s insurance premiums up, even the ones that drive around at 5 mphs to avoid the potholes. So well done lets all pay billions to the government to drive are cars on roads that are incapable of taking them and then pay extra to insurance companies because of it.

For the record I hit my pothole at 15 - 20mph due to the sun being in my eyes, I wasn’t speeding and was avoiding a different set of potholes.

If I had seen it in time I would have had to mount the bank or drive onto the other side of the road, now with your sixty years of experience would you recommend that we
A. mount pedestrian’s areas to avoid them
B. Drive into oncoming traffic??
C. Brake heavily hoping the person behind us has your driving attributes and doesn’t plough into the rear end?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

More News stories


HOLE LOT OF TROUBLE: A pothole in Alton Road, Parkstone, this week BROKEN ROAD: Brian Willson shows one of the potholes on Throop Road that he says damaged the tyres on his Volvo ANGRY: Mark Rylands spent £600 on repairs to his van

HOLE LOT OF TROUBLE: A pothole in Alton Road, Parkstone, this week

BROKEN ROAD: Brian Willson shows one of the potholes on Throop Road that he says damaged the tyres on his Volvo

ANGRY: Mark Rylands spent £600 on repairs to his van



Most popular



Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »

Local Businesses