Pot luck when driving? (From Bournemouth Echo)

Pot luck when driving?

9:00am Wednesday 3rd March 2010 in

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LAMBETH, it was revealed this week, is the angriest place in Britain. Not when you’ve just driven over a Bournemouth pothole, it’s not.

To be fair, Bournemouth’s a relaxed town that rarely prompts me to face the town hall and yell “Muttheads!”

Nor am I usually driven to anger, though certain things can turn me puce. Selfish drivers, for example. Or snobs. Or a Jeremy Clarkson opinion from the Land of Utter Tosh.

But every so often you hear of something that demands a count of 10 before responding. And one that might even have Clarkson lining up alongside you for some synchronised head-shaking if he heard the same guff.

Bournemouth council’s insurers not coughing up the £218 bill when a driver has had his tyres shredded by an unfilled pothole comes into this catalogue. The insurers argue that so long as a council has inspected a road in the past eight weeks they are not liable.

If I left a dangerous hole in my garden’s front path and Mr Insurer tripped over it, could I argue that I was not responsible because I did not know it was there? Thought not.

And do dustcarts and other council vehicles regularly drive down town roads? Thought so.

I’d have assumed that, after the cold snap, every council would check their highways for damage. And then do something about each pothole pretty damn smartish.

Bournemouth has recently approved an extra £2.5m for its roads, including filling potholes.

I would normally be the first to shake a fist at any council pouring money down a hole.

With potholes, I’ll make an exception.