I’m stuck in my house because of a ‘monster’ 100 meter long ‘swamp’ – the council won’t fix it
A JOINER says he is stuck in his home thanks to a 100-metre puddle that the council won’t fix.
Andy Tebbutt has been battling the dangerous lagoon for years and says it is preventing him from leaving his Kent estate straight away.
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Despite repeated complaints, he says Medway Council has told him they cannot afford to install drainage and he now fears his van will be written off as a result.
Andy, from Upper Halling, near Rochester, told the story KentOnline: “It’s not a pothole. It’s at least 100 meters long and covers the entire road.
“It is unacceptable that the condition of the road becomes this way.”
Andy says the watery ordeal along Pilgrims Road has been going on for “two to four years”.
The rolling fields and existing drainage system mean that the potholed road just off the A228 is completely flooded in winter.
Cars try to drive through the muddy depths, but the water rises up to the bumpers.
Andy says he can only charge through the lake-like puddle with his van, but he’s afraid he’ll damage it.
FAST HELL
If you have fully comprehensive car insurance, you may be able to make a claim for damage to your vehicle caused by flooding, as long as you have taken every precaution to protect your car.
You may not get coverage if you decide to take a risk and drive your car during flooding.
Most insurers categorize flood damage as avoidable or unavoidable.
Avoidable damage can be classified as someone driving in flood water because you never know how deep it is.
For example, two inches of water is enough to reach the bottom of most cars, potentially causing loss of control and stalling.
Cars can float in as little as 12 inches of water, while 2 feet of water is enough to tow most cars away.
Unavoidable flood damage can be classified as flood damage to your car when it is parked in its usual place, such as at home.
Source: Admiral
He added: “My daughter and wife can’t do that though because they’re afraid of what it will do to their cars.”
In addition to good drainage, Andy wants the road to be raised, but says the council has told him this is not financially feasible given how small the road is.
The saga has left the joiner wondering where his massive £3,500-a-year council tax bill is going.
Medway Council was contacted for comment.
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