POTHOLES!

[Volksy]

Don't know if anyone here has driven through Leeds recently, but the council haven't repaired the roads for years, never mind since the cold snap earlier this year.On my way home from work, I hit a big hole, whilst turning, and I've shafted the OSF wheel bearing on the Ovlov. Now they ain't cheap, as they come as a complete hub assembly. So looking at about £100 inc VAT just for the part.Has anyone managed to get compensation out of the council for damage done to their cars, and how did they go about it?Cheers in Advance!

[RedSparrow]

I think its a nationwide problem. Caused apparently by snowploughs breaking up the roads surface. I have to avoid them like the plague round here as I am using the Triumph daily and every time I hit one a few minor components fall off!I'd imagine getting any compo out of the council are next to zero.

[maxpower]

the missus did the exact same thing with her car on A12 but i doubt i will get any compo as i phoned highways agency as they are doing work on the road and just got the normal "yeah yeah" they have the lanes coned off, and you are left to drive on worst conditions than you would be if you went through the cones and drove over the part they have dug up

[Tayne]

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[MrDuke]

The other problem is that they'll likely just come and shovel a load of surface mix into the hole and flatten it. Then, next time it rains heavily or freezes, it will break up and make the hole even bigger. We had that on our lane for about 2 years - eventually, thanks in part to half-arsed repair work, it deteriorated to the point that no-one could drive faster than 10mph for about 500yds. They then came and ripped the whole surface off and relaid it, which they could've saved money by doing at the outset.

[Tayne]

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[Station]

^ That's what they've done around here. Not surprisingly.They do this because no-one is accountable as all the workers are contracted by the council, and nobody faces responsibility when it goes wrong. Road repairs are either too deep or too high. I know they sink, but surely after decades of doing this, you'd know how to get it right so it's level?Have you seen some of road workers doing their job lately? They just can't be arsed, I've seen community service workers with more skill/enthusiasm.

[Pillock]

You need to immediately go and get photos of the pothole. Put something in it to show the scale, like a ruler or Action Man.Get a reciept for the work needed on the car - either from a garage, or a reciept for the cost of the part and then info from Autodata or something showing how much work it would be to repair.Then wonder why you f'king bothered when even after going down the correct route, with photo evidence etc etc they just fill the hole badly and then flick you the bird. These days, with the roads in such a state, they hardly ever pay out. They can't afford to.

[retrogeezer]

I've said this before but in what other line of work would you get away with such shoddy work?? I guess it's because it is paid for out of the bottomless pit of council tax.

[Pillock]

I travelled down the backroads from Southwell to Farnsfield today.... not just potholes, but a proper rutted road has developed. One mass of potholes, all joined together. I glanced over at the field next to the road and it looked smoother.....My road is getting pretty bad too, huge sheets of the top layer just peeled off which is a good two inches deep, and maybe 4ft by 3ft area. This was resurfaced two years ago.....

[Danblez]

I believe the pothole has to be a minimum of 3 inches deep, but yes go with camera and ruler and take lots of pics. If it is deep enough you have a reasonable chance.

[chester drawers]

How to claim

[Volksy]

Thanks all, I'll get on it!

[Josh_Cohen]

I know What you mean mate i work in leeds and my car is lowered imagine my pain

[Andrew353w]

I did an M.O.T. for a customer's "T" reg Ford Ka yesterday; less than 30k and since last year about 5k on the clock; BOTH front springs had broken! Looking at the breaks I'd say they were fairly new (still quite shiny) so I reckon it was the potholes during the bad weather. I know they have to be fixed and I understand why, but I can't help having sympathy for the poor customer on this occasion! I am aware that this problem is a regular one on Ford Ka cars; something to do with sub-standard steel used in the smelting process.

[Lord Sterling]

When I used to work at a garage during the cold snap we had Peugeots, Citroens, Fords, and BMWs come in daily with broken suspensions springs, often at the front.Councils/other such companies say they follow the 'guidlines' in filling in potholes/dug up roads. The 'guidlines' must be seriously out of date, probably not updated since 1960s when there wasnt so many cars on the roads.I've seen countless potholes fill in, then somehow crumble to a pothole again!There is a road near mty current work that has been dug up and filled in so many times (very badly) that its almost like cobbles to drive down.

[Minimad5]

As i don't drive, i can't really comment on how the local roads are to drive on.But upon entering my street, there is a huge pot hole at the side of the road, that you have to drive into - as "Mr Builder" never parks his van close to the kerb.I discovered that under this reversed speed bump , is a Gas line Warren :- Next time you come down my road, floor it, and see how high you can get

[Lankytim]

I dont understand why councils don't drag contractors back to re-do pot holes or trenches that have broken up or sunk after 6 months. It seems that if something lasts a couple of weeks its completely acceptable. It makes you wonder how many people are killed or seriously injured each years due to damaged tyres or springs caused by potholes that later cause an accident.