A GRANDMA has been hit with a £267 bill after she drove into a pothole and became “stranded” for six hours.
Jo Ellis said she accidentally hit a hole in the road while driving in Gedling, Nottinghamshire.
BPMA grandma is battling for compensation after driving into a pothole and becoming stranded[/caption]
Two of her tyres were damaged as a result – leaving her with a £267 bill.
Now she wants compensation from the council to pay for the damage to her car.
Nottinghamshire County Council has since filled the hole.
Recalling the event on October 22 last year, Mrs Ellis said: “The sun was fully hitting my windscreen and I just didn’t spot the pothole.
“I heard the biggest bang, it frightened me, I thought ‘what the hell was that?’
“I just carried on as it seemed to be alright. I got as far as Burton Joyce and heard a terrible noise so I pulled into the first layby.”
She then noticed her Peugeot RCZ had picked up a flat tyre.
“I was panicking because it’s a sports car and it doesn’t carry a spare tyre. I ended up waiting for six hours,” she said, adding: “It’s an experience I won’t forget.”
Mrs Ellis said she felt particularly “vulnerable” while waiting in the Nottingham Road layby as it came shortly after a breast cancer operation. She is now in remission.
Her husband, Steve, has since been in touch with the county council in an attempt to get compensation after two tyres had to be replaced.
However, the council said it was not to blame. In a response, its risk and insurance team said Westdale Lane is inspected monthly.
“During the routine inspection on 05/10/2022 prior to your unfortunate incident, any defects that were present that had breached the Council’s carriageway investigatory criteria were issued for repair,” it said.
It added: “The pothole in your incident location was either not present during the pre-incident inspection or did not require repairing under the Council’s policy and guidelines.”
The county council have been approached for comment.
Speaking on the state of the road, Mr Ellis, a 65-year-old company director, said: “It looks like Beirut, it’s absolutely horrendous.”
Mrs Ellis added: “The road is absolutely diabolical, I spend more time spotting and dodging potholes than I am focusing on driving.
“It’s in a terrible state but Westdale Lane has been like it for so long. I only go out now when I have to.”
BPMShe accidentally hit the cavity in the road[/caption] Read More