A Derbyshire driver faced a £70 fine after a pothole damaged his vehicle on a road maintained by local authorities. The incident occurred on Cragg Lane in Newton, where the tyre burst, forcing the car onto the kerb.

Details of the Incident

Matt Fellows described how his tyre “exploded” upon hitting the pothole while driving with his partner, Sadie Elliott. “We knew we’d hit it; it made a rather loud noise as we went through it, but we hadn’t realised the damage at that point,” Matt explained. The compromised tyre failed as they mounted the kerb to allow a police car with flashing lights to pass.

Upon returning to the vehicle, they discovered a penalty charge notice (PCN) on the windscreen for parking on a yellow line along High Street in Alfreton. Hazard lights were on due to the flat tyre, but the enforcement officer issued the fine regardless.

“It’s awful, it’s absolutely awful,” Matt said. “We were in the wrong place but only parked there because the car was broken down. And to come back and find we’ve then had a ticket as well is not the best feeling. Roads are getting worse and worse weekly.”

Council Response and Fine Cancellation

Councillor Charlotte Hill, responsible for potholes, highways, and transport, stated: “In this case, the penalty charge notice was issued as the vehicle was seen by a warden to be parked in contravention of the yellow line waiting restriction along High Street, Alfreton, and no-one was with the vehicle.”

She added that a comprehensive appeal process exists, and after reviewing the evidence, the council will cancel the notice and inform the driver.

Matt expressed relief: “We’re quite grateful it happened where it did, other than the parking ticket, because we weren’t far from the M1 motorway. Had it occurred there, it could have been far uglier.”