Kent Highways - Total disgrace

by Geoff

22 Feb 2009

On visiting my parents last Sunday I hit a pothole bursting both tyres and bending the alloy wheels on the passanger side. It was either that or have a headon with the oncoming car! The pothole in question has been there to my knowledge 2-3 weeks and was 6-8 Inches deep. This section of road has been bodged by contractors in the past rather than doing large patches or planing the road out and resurfacing it. (do it once do it right) clearly NOT how they work!!
The cost of the 2 wheels alone is £907 then the tracking plus tyres and possible suspension parts. a repair likely to be well over £1000. I fail to understand how they can not be liable as they have a duty to maintain the highway. After reading the other storys on this site it seems the authoritys Insurers hide behind sections 50 & 58 of the highways act. I am not going to let this drop I will instruct a solicitor if I have to a persue the matter through court. I know from driving this road the bad condition it is in and they say about yearly inspections. well, I could show you lots of smaller (but growing) potholes that have been there well over a year including a service trench which has been collaped for years. It would seem that their inspector hasnt inspected it or that would have been dealt with by now. Also this is a griting route and a bus route and therefore once a year clearly is not enough.
I have received a claim form which I will send off together with photos of the offending hole.
Watch this space.........