A number of drivers’ cars have been damaged by a pothole masquerading as a puddle in Tring.
Local resident Roger Payton was amongst those affected by the large pothole filled with rainwater on Station Road.
Roger described driving at around 25mph on Thursday, February 8, and hearing an “explosion” as he drove over the hole.
He said: “I left my crippled car with four other people all awaiting recovery with damaged suspension and burst tyres.
“The chap next to me said I was the 15th that he had seen.
“A resident donned a yellow jacket and warned people for three or so hours about the crater, waving like a madman. What a hero, but eventually even he succumbed to the rain!”
Roger is now facing costs of more than £1,000 to fix the damage to his car and has asked why Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) failed to act sooner.
He said: “It’s bitterly disappointing as there was so much opportunity to prevent it.
“They coned it off the following day, but far too little and far too late for me sadly.”
A spokesperson for HCC said: “We have carried out repairs on potholes on Station Road during December and January, but unfortunately cold and wet weather has affected the condition of roads across the county. We have had a number of potholes on Station Road reported to us following the very heavy rain, and these are under review by local engineers.”
Photo credit: Roger Payton
The initial response of HCC has been to repudiate my claim for two tyres and a broken front wheel from crater in Station Road Tring 8 Feb 2024 5pm. My experience was just like Roger’s!