A huge pothole in Richhill, aptly named ‘the beast’ by one local councillor, is back and claiming victims at an alarming rate.
The offending crater – surprisingly not ranked as top priority by Roads Service given its depth – has re-appeared on the Annareagh Road between Richhill and Hamiltonsbawn.
The pothole was reported on Thursday, however, as of Tuesday morning it was still very much an active and malevolent presence. There were five cars marooned at the side of the road at one point this morning.
One driver who acquainted himself with the pothole on Saturday evening forked out £445 for alloy and tyre repairs.
Speaking on the issue, Alderman Gareth Wilson said: “There is a significant urgency attached to this issue given the sheer number of drivers who have sustained vehicle damage after unwittingly hitting this pot hole since last Thursday.
“It has been reported and I understand from DfI that an instruction has been issued for its repair, however with each passing day more and more drivers are being hit in the pocket.
“I have had many messages on this issue and indeed a driver has had to shell out £445 for a new alloy wheel and tyre on his car. This morning, I understand five vehicles were damaged alone which is a shocking and costly situation.
“I have contacted the PSNI today also as I feel it is becoming a great danger to motorists especially those trying to avoid the hole with vehicles coming in the other direction. I feel in these specific instances, the repair timeframe needs to be assessed as urgent and repaired immediately to avoid this huge amount of damage being caused and risk to motorists.
“Drivers already pay high costs for tax and for vehicle running, therefore to have their car damaged by defects in the road just heaps the misery on motorists.”
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