Driver says pothole ruins three wheels on car (From Bucks Free Press)

Princes Risborough resident fed up with potholes

12:00pm Friday 21st January 2011 in Politics By Rebecca Cain

A DRIVER is fuming after he said a pothole ruined three wheels on his car and is frustrated with the lengthy time it takes to look at claims.

Ray Richardson, 57, from Ash Road, Princes Risborough said he was driving to work in Milton Keynes on Tuesday when he hit a pothole in Station Road, Little Kimble which damaged two tyres.

The impact forced him to hit the kerb which damaged a third tyre, he said.

The lorry driver who was driving his car at the time said: “This particular pothole is an absolute nightmare- someone is going to get killed on it.”

Mr Richardson said he is sending a claim form to the council-run Transport for Buckinghamshire who are responsible for road maintenance, but was shocked it would take five to 10 months to process.

He said: “I can't afford three new wheels right after Christmas. If I turned around I said it is going to be between five and 10 months until I pay my council tax what would they do?”

He said he is going to have to borrow some money to pay for the new wheels.

Mark Oldfield, Transport for Buckinghamshire Communications Manager said normally when a pothole is reported it is looked at in 24 hours but due to the high number of reports they will be looking at getting this one filled in at the end of the week.

He said they do not pay out on all claims and there is a process they have to go through where they have to investigate the claim and the validity of it.

He added there is a backlog of claims at the moment and they are looking at ways to slim line the process.