Dad fears for daughter's life as teen endures pothole hell that 'could be fatal'

20 January 2023 , 19:30

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17-year-old Charlotte Belcher Truss has hit potholes multiple times since passing her test last month (Image: Andrew Belcher Truss)

A concerned father has hit out at his local council as he warns that "horrendous" potholes could prove "fatal".

Andrew Belcher, from South Molton, Devon, has become increasingly concerned about the dangerous potholes ever since his daughter, Charlotte, passed her driving test last month.

The 17-year-old has been driving since December 12 but has already fallen victim to the potholes on multiple occasions while on her way to Exeter College and her job in Umberleigh.

Andrew fumed: “Nobody seems to be doing a great deal about it and the council is extremely slow.

"The problem is these horrendous potholes could be quite fatal to people. I know people exaggerate when they have a complaint, but this is no exaggeration."

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He said that at night the "extremely deep" potholes are often full of water and other locals keep hitting them in the dark.

One of Charlotte's tyres burst because of a pothole (Andrew Belcher Truss)

Andrew said the potholes are deep and often full of water (Andrew Belcher Truss)

Charlotte has been forced to fork out money on repairs to her car because of the potholes.

She first hit one two weeks ago, leaving a bulge in her tyre that needed repairing, and then on January 17 she hit another one that burst her tyre.

In total, she's already spent almost £125 for repairs, which Andrew claims "is not her fault".

“She pays her road tax and everything, which should technically keep the roads maintained," he told Devon Live.

Charlotte with her car (Andrew Belcher Truss)

Andrew added: “Every time she goes out, we tell her to be careful, keep her speed down – which she does anyway – and that it’s better to annoy people behind while driving slowly rather than burst another tyre."

But despite this, the potholes are still proving a problem and have led to her being forced to borrow money from her parents to pay for the repairs.

Mr Belcher claimed that there had been a series of similar incidents in the area and that he's since attempted to make a claim online.

But he said it was "too much hassle" because of the number of questions you're asked.

Criticising the council, he continued: “At the moment, there seems to be an abundance of potholes. I know it’s due to the weather, but I think the council need to get onto it.

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"It’s no excuse to say there are more potholes than there are people to sort it; that’s the council’s problem. If we use the roads, we should be kept safe.”

The Mirror has approached Devon County Council for comment.

Lewis Clarke