Lane is still plagued by problem potholes
0 Comments | Bury Free Press (Bury St. Edmunds, England), Jan 8, 2010
Homeowner John Atkins, of North Common, is still involved in a long-running battle for remedial roadworks and an insurance payout, after his car was damaged last June.
In October, Suffolk County Council acknowledged that it was responsible for maintaining Western Bury Lane, which leads to Mr Atkins’ home, after initially saying the road was unadopted and therefore not its responsibility.
The council promised remedial roadworks within eight weeks. However, the potholes are still there.
Mr Atkins told the Bury Free Press that Matthew Riches, western area highways manager, spoke to him about the matter just before Christmas.
“He told me he would do us a favour and get some asphalt put in the holes as a gesture of goodwill and he said he was not going to contact Zurich (the insurance company) to say the damage was the council’s fault, which means I can’t claim for the Au200 the car repairs cost me,” he said.
“Their rules say a green lane does not requite any maintenance and if I choose to live up there it’s my choice. But what happens if I can’t get to my house?”
Mr Atkins acknowledged that the council did fill in one pothole after the Bury Free Press ran a report in October, but the holes were still so bad the milkman and refuse collectors would not drive down the lane and the postman had complained.
A spokeswoman for Suffolk County Council said this week: “The highways team has been gearing up to respond to any emergency road repairs following this current bad weather. Naturally, potholes are caused and worsened by freezing and thawing of the road surface and the current extreme weather conditions are likely to present additional issues to contend with once the temperatures begin to rise again
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