top of page
Writer's pictureSafer Highways

Famous town's cheeky sign highlights the dire state of the UK's pothole roads


Hastings is most famous for the historic battle that took place there almost a millennia ago, but a new sign is letting the town lay claim to a less sought after title.

A famous town has a cheeky sign that drives home a point on the shocking state of the country’s roads.


Hastings is most famous for its historic battle that took place almost a millennia ago.


But, like most of the UK, some of its most notable modern-day features are rather less grand, and more of a pain to motorists.


A sign has appeared on a road, at one entrance to Hastings proudly stating: “Welcome to Hastings and St Leonards Home of The Pot Hole”.


Not far from where the sign went up, a large pothole had caused damage to as many as 40 vehicles, SussexWorld reported.


People took to social media to complain about the dangerous road conditions, with one woman warning it could lead to a “very nasty accident”.


Another user commented: “It’s like this all over Hastings. The roads need fixing. I feel ashamed to live here. The town is going downhill fast”.

A third added: “St Matthew’s Road, in St Leonards, is just as bad – the whole of Hastings and St Leonards is disgraceful.”


This comes as one driver won over £1million in a payout after they hit a pothole.

After a four-year legal battle, the motorist has won a massive £1,188,565.25 for a “pothole-caused personal injury”.


It might be the largest payout of its kind, and campaigners warned it reflects the dire state of the UK’s roads, as the RAC cautioned this winter created the "perfect recipe" for more potholes to pepper the country's roads.


The payout was made by the Welsh Government which is responsible for maintaining larger trunk roads nationwide across Wales.


The unnamed driver was injured in the pothole accident in 2018-19 and the compensation was finally paid out four years later.


A Freedom of Information request revealed dozens of people have put in such claims in Wales over the last five years.


The figures show the Welsh Government settled 11 claims for pothole-related vehicle damage over the past five years and a further two claims to personal injuries.

16 views0 comments

Comments


Recent Blog Posts

NEWS AND UPDATES

bottom of page