Driver Fined £70 After Pothole Damage Forces Kerb Mounting in Derbyshire
A motorist in Derbyshire has been fined £70 after mounting a kerb when a pothole caused his tyre to burst, highlighting ongoing concerns about road maintenance and enforcement practices.
Incident Details and Council Response
Matt Fellows told the BBC News that his tyre "exploded" due to pothole damage on Cragg Lane in Newton, Derbyshire, within the East Midlands region. He explained that a civil enforcement officer placed a £70 penalty charge notice (PCN) on his windscreen before he could arrange tyre replacement, as the vehicle was temporarily parked with hazard lights activated.
Councillor Charlotte Hill, cabinet member for potholes, highways and transport, stated: "In this particular case, the penalty charge notice was issued as the vehicle was seen by a warden to be parked in contravention of the yellow line waiting restriction in operation along High Street, Alfreton, and no-one was with the vehicle."
Sequence of Events and Driver's Account
The incident unfolded as follows:
- Matt and his partner Sadie Elliott struck a pothole, hearing a loud noise but initially unaware of the damage.
- The compromised tyre wall led to an explosion, forcing them to mount the kerb to make room for an approaching police car with flashing lights.
- Upon returning to their vehicle, they discovered the £70 parking ticket despite the flat tyre and hazard warning lights being visible.
Matt described the experience as "awful, absolutely awful", adding: "We were in the wrong place but we were only parked there because the car was broken down. To come back and find we've then had a ticket as well is not the best feeling in the world."
Appeal Process and Resolution
Councillor Hill emphasised the council's appeal procedure, noting: "Once a PCN is issued, there is a comprehensive process which allows people to appeal and, having reviewed the evidence provided in this case, we will be cancelling the notice and notifying them of the decision."
Matt expressed gratitude that the incident occurred near local roads rather than the M1 motorway, where consequences could have been more severe. However, he raised broader concerns about deteriorating road conditions, stating: "Beyond that, it seems that roads are getting worse and worse weekly."
This case underscores the tension between traffic enforcement and road maintenance responsibilities, prompting questions about discretion in penalty issuance during vehicle breakdowns caused by infrastructure defects.
