Motorist wants council to foot bill after car hits pothole

Brodie Grave does not think he should have to foot the bill for the repairs to his car after hitting a pothole on a notoriously bumpy Canterbury road.

The 22-year-old was travelling along Jones Rd in Rolleston when he heard a large bang after hitting an unexpected pothole he says was about 5cm deep.

One of his tyres blew instantly and the rim was damaged to the point of needing replacement.

He estimates the work will cost about $700 - and wants the Selwyn District Council to help pay the bill.

“It’s a lot of money for a young person and I don’t think I should be responsible for it," Mr Grave said. 

"They [council] should at least pay for replacement of the rim.

“It is also frustrating that I am having to use my parents’ car for potentially up to two weeks.

"If it hadn’t been for them I would have been screwed."

Mr Grave has been in touch with the district council and Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton, but was told it would not help pay for the repairs.

District council transportation asset delivery manager Mark Chamberlain said it is aware of the specific pothole on the road and it has now been patched up.

“The council does not pay for or contribute to repairs to vehicles," he said. 

"This is a matter between car owners and their insurers."

Mr Grave said he considered going to his insurer but it would not be worth making a claim due to the excess he would still be required to pay.

The district council has received nine complaints regarding potholes on Jones Rd in Rolleston since January last year.

“The asphalt seal on Jones Rd is at the end of its life and a reseal is planned for the next financial year," Mr Chamberlain said. 

"Patching will continue to maintain the seal until then."

Mr Grave says this is not good enough and claims Jones Rd has been in a bad condition for years.

"There was no signage there warning about the pothole," he said.

"I understand they have a massive roading network to cover but they knew about Jones Rd and did nothing. Why should I have to pay for this?

"I was very lucky actually with the damage I had. If it had been a lighter vehicle or something like a moped it could have killed them,” he said.

Although he is not happy with the district council’s response, he said he has been well supported by councillor Jeff Bland and James Faber, of HEB Construction, which holds the maintenance contract for the road.

“I just want the council to figure out how this got so out of hand," Mr Grave said. 

"How did they let a main thoroughfare like Jones Rd deteriorate for years?”