Yeovil driver blames wrecked road for £500 car repair bill
A Yeovil motorist says he has endured 18 months of “road hell” because of potholes on his street.
Sports groundsman Rodney Pippard, 47, of St George’s Avenue, blames traffic from a new housing development for tearing up the road.
He claims he faces a bill of up to £500 to fix his car suspension because of pothole damage.
He said neither Yarlington Housing Group, which is building the new homes, or Somerset County Council’s Highways department will accept responsibility for the damage.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Wednesday, May 22 2013
He said: “They keep repairing the holes with concrete but it falls apart within days. I know the roads are bad but in these bad times when we are all finding it tough, I’m having to repair my car because of the road. I think it is diabolical. I’ve lived in the street for 25 years and I’ve never experienced it like this.”
Mr Pippard said approximately 40 lorries travelled up and down the road taking soil away from the development when construction first started 18 months ago.
He said: “At this stage, we have still got six lorries a day going up and down the road and it was meant to be finished ages ago. The roads in the new estate are lovely but when you get back onto the main road, it’s a mess.”
A spokeswoman for Yarlington Housing Group said the housing association was aware of the road issues and had sent representatives to meet residents to discuss concerns.
She said: “The construction company involved in the development, Mansell Partnership Housing South West, have carried out numerous temporary repairs to the road, and are currently in continued discussions with Somerset County Council Highways to seek a long term solution to the problem.
“Evidence has been submitted to the county council by Mansell’s insurers suggesting the road was originally not fit for purpose. The insurers are currently awaiting a response. We hope to reach a solution to this problem soon for the residents of this area.”
A Somerset County Council spokesman said: “We are currently in negotiation with Yarlington Housing Group about achieving the necessary level of repair to the road.”
Earlier this month, the Western Gazette photographed scores of potholes in and around Yeovil prompted a huge response from readers who posted details of potholes on the newspaper’s Facebook page.
Somerset County Council said it filled 20,000 potholes, completely resurfaced 26 miles of road and surface dressed a further 200 miles 2012.
How is the state of the roads near where you live? Have you been affected by potholes? Send your pictures and experiences to newsdesk@westgaz.co.uk.
If your car has been damaged by potholes, click here to see our Somerset garage and motors listings.
Comments
by siarad2
Saturday, January 26 2013, 11:03AM
“"the road was originally not fit for purpose"
I can't imagine the original purpose of a road in what appears to be a housing estate was for multiply lorries a day.”