Motorist's fury over pothole repair (From Watford Observer)

Motorist Angus Boyd's fury over pothole repair after Hunton Bridge damage

2:30pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Rebecca Perring, Reporter

Angus Boyd is angry after the front tyre and rim of his Audi A4 had to be replaced because of damage caused by a pothole in Hunton Bridge Road.

A fuming driver says he is making a claim against county council contractors after a pothole in Hunton Bridge ruined his new car tyre, costing him £170 to replace.

Angus Boyd is angry after the front tyre and rim of his Audi A4 had to be replaced because of damage caused by a pothole in Bridge Road when he was visiting a friend who lives in Southway.

After the incident took place in late December, Ringway - the company contracted by Hertfordshire County Council to maintain roads - repaired the pothole in January.

However Mr Boyd said he is not satisfied and will be claiming to ensure he receives compensation for his loss of time and money.

The 69-year-old said: "I was driving along with friends and relatives in the car, when all of a sudden the car dipped low in to the road. The car shook and there were gasps as we drove in to it.

"The next morning I noticed a bulge in my tyre and then my garage told me that it would need replacing because the tyre wall had ruptured and wheel was considerably damaged.

"Why should I have to pay for the damage? It is not my fault the pothole was there in the first place."

The retired lawyer is now in ongoing contact with Ringway and the county council, who have asked him to provide evidence of the exact location, witnesses, police contact, details of damage and his insurance details.

However Mr Boyd says he doesn’t wish to provide his insurance details through worry the contractors will make a claim on his insurance.

He said: "Why should I give them my insurance details for them to make a claim that way? My no claims bonus could also be affected. "The roads are unbelievable around here and some people will experience damage to their cars and suffer, but not make a complaint.

"However they are not going to get away with this and I will keep on contacting and remain persistent until they give me my compensation. "

Joanne Barnett, spokesman from Ringway and the county council said they were "legally obliged to follow strict procedures to ensure that fraudulent or multiple claims are not being made for the same incident."

She said: "This is to ensure that we do not pay out on bogus claims at the taxpayer's expense.

"We do not comment on individual on-going claims. Claimants are required to complete in full and submit a form covering the relevant details of the incident before we can investigate the claim.

"Anyone claiming should also submit photographic evidence, receipts for any work done (we can’t pay for estimates) and precise locations of the incidents where possible. Once we have all the necessary information, we aim to deal with the claim as quickly as possible."

Ms Barnett said Mr Boyd would have to provide evidence of claimant's insurance details, which are used to help check for fraudulent or multiple claims.