Driver to ‘withhold council tax’ in protest at ?180 pothole compo …

Motorist Michael Meigh is demanding £180 compensation – after his Audi A3 hit a pothole. The 52-year-old has lodged the Stoke-on-Trent City Council ^[1] claim after hitting the crater on Duddell Road, in Smallthorne ^[2], and damaging his suspension.

Now the council has rejected the claim after months of deliberations.

The dad-of-five, from Smallthorne, said: “Duddell Road is like a little rat-run for people who know the back streets and it’s not like it’s not used often. It was in an absolutely terrible condition.

“There was a loud twang and we knew instantly that something had happened. It felt like we’d gone over a big rock. My mate was in the car at the time and when I turned the steering wheel it went crunch, crunch, crunch. It happened on a pothole – 100 per cent and without a shadow of a doubt.

“I’m very disappointed with the way it’s been handled. I have given them more than enough evidence for a fair decision for them to then just brush everything aside and to say we are not going to pay out.”

One of the potholes Michael Meigh saw on Duddell Road, Smallthorne (Image: Michael Meigh)

The council forwarded the claim to its insurer Zurich. It rejected the claim because there had been no previous complaints about that particular road defect. The pothole has since been repaired.

Michael added: “I have sent a note back to the council saying maybe I won’t pay my council tax until I get my £180 back. We’re in a cost of living crisis at the end of the day and I need that money.

“I’m not going to let this drop and I’ll take it to the small claims court if needs be. I just get wound up by it dragging on and on.

One of the potholes Michael Meigh saw on Duddell Road, Smallthorne (Image: Michael Meigh)

“I have sent email after email asking what their complaints procedure is. I have kicked up a fuss and contacted the local councillor who said she’d look into it and then said she’d been told it had been passed onto the council’s insurers. It’s just unbelievable.

“This is not fair and it has taken ages. The incident was in March, they received the claim in April, and I have only just received the final decision. What does it take to get your money back? I think it’s quite straightforward and I have followed all the procedures and given them enough evidence. Where the potholes are positioned there are cars parked either side and you can’t avoid them.”

The council says pothole claims are considered on a case-by-case basis. It has not provided a statement on Michael’s case.

References

^{^} Stoke-on-Trent City Council (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Smallthorne (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
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