A JOINER says he’s trapped in his home thanks to a 100-metre puddle which the council won’t fix.
Andy Tebbutt has battled the hazardous lagoon for years and says it prevents him turning right out of his Kent property.
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Despite repeated complaints, he says Medway Council told him they can’t afford to install drainage and he now fears it’ll write off his van.
Andy, from Upper Halling, near Rochester, told KentOnline: “It’s not a pothole. It’s at least 100 metres long and takes up the whole road.
“It’s unacceptable for the state of the road to get like this.”
Andy says the watery ordeal along Pilgrims Road has rumbled for “two to four years”.
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Sloping fields and the existing drainage system leaves the pothole-ridden lane – just off the A228 – totally waterlogged over winter.
Cars do try and pass through the muddy depths but flood waters go up to the bumpers.
Andy says he can only storm through the lake-like puddle in his van but he fears damaging it.
FLOODY HELL
If you have a fully comprehensive car insurance policy, you may be able to claim for damage to your vehicle caused by flooding – as long as you’ve taken every precaution to safeguard your car.
You may not get cover if you decide to take a risk and drive your car in flood conditions.
Most insurers categorise flood damage as avoidable or unavoidable.
Avoidable damage could be classed as someone driving into flood water, as you never know how deep it is.
For example, six inches of water is enough to reach the bottom of most cars, causing potential loss of control and stalling.
Cars can float in just 12 inches of water, while two feet of water is enough to drag away most cars.
Unavoidable flood damage could be classed as your car getting damaged by floods when it’s parked at its usual spot, such as at home.
Source: Admiral
He added: “My daughter and wife can’t do that though, as they fear what it’s going to do to their cars.”
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As well as proper drainage, Andy wants the road raised but says the council told him it is not financially viable given how small the road is.
The saga has left the joiner questioning where his monster £3,500 a year council tax bill is going.
Medway Council were approached for comment.
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