Driver's big bill for car damage
Nigel Duncum, of Vines Lane, said he and his wife knew straight away there was a problem after a wheel of their car descended into a four-inch crater.
He said: "We damaged our car in St Julian's Road at the junction with Riverhill when we hit a pothole four-and-a-half inches deep.
"My wife was driving and the car shuddered when she hit it.
"Glenda said it didn't feel right after that.
"We thought it was the tyre, so we bought a new one, but then we found all the joins of the suspension had broken."
Mr Duncum was landed with an £862 repair bill. He said he had not wanted to claim for it on his insurance as he would lose his no claims bonus.
"The claim form is quite complicated," he added. "It asks you questions like have you driven this road before and they want to see your logbook.
"I put in the claim anyway."
He added he found that there was a whole raft of information that could be asked of Kent Highways Service, the highways arm of Kent County Council, under the Freedom of Information Act, including the dates of safety inspections and details of carriageway defects.
He said it will be a few weeks before he knows the outcome of his application.
Ivan Armstrong, of Croftside, Vigo, damaged his car on a pothole in London Road, West Kingsdown, in November.
He was forced to pay a £32 bill after his tyre was punctured.
He said: "I did go to the county council but they refused to pay up.
"They said they are obliged by law to keep the roads in a state of reasonable repair.
"They are not obliged to keep them in a perfect state of repair.
"When I spoke to them about the damage, the pothole was filled within 24 hours.
"Other people had probably complained about it. It was very deep and it was filled with rain.
Criteria
"What I would urge people to do is ring Kent County Council and report potholes, and if nothing is done, report them until something is done."
Kent Highway Services spokesman Phil Scrivener said there are fixed criteria set down by law determining when people can claim compensation.
He added each case is considered on its own merits.
The public can report potholes to Kent County Council online at www.kent.gov. uk/highways or by calling 08458 247 800.
Nominate your Pothole of the Week by e-mailing a picture or writing to us at reporters@sevenoaks-chronicle.co.uk
Nigel Duncum at the junction of St Julian Road where he damaged his vehicle in a recently repaired pot hole, pictured in Sevenoaks on Thursday last week PV2801103/105
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