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Annoyed driver gets his 6ft son to stand inside a pothole to show how deep it is

Lancashire County Council argues the road is a "country track bordered by a ditch which people who drive in rural areas will be familiar with".

Emily Sergeant - 20th November 2020

A furiously fed-up motorist got his 6ft son to stand inside a pothole on a country road in Lancashire to prove to council leaders just how deep it is.

And the pictures really speak for themselves.

Aron Cross, 52 – who runs a glamping business near the road – photographed son Lewis, 27, inside the pothole in Wycoller, near Pendle – showing his head and shoulders only just visible above the ground’s surface – and slammed Lancashire County Council in the process after claiming he reported it to the highways department a year ago.

Council leaders have however argued that the road is a “country track bordered by a ditch which people who drive in rural areas will be familiar with”.

Mr Cross responded by insisting the route is an adopted road that is only wide enough for a single vehicle.

He said he is amazed it had not been spotted during a recent inspection, and even added that he believes a child “could easily be killed” if they were to walk along the track and didn’t spot the hazard in time.

He continued: “I think it’s important to understand that the county council claim to have inspected this adopted highway, only a couple of weeks ago. Obviously, this brings the competence and validity of the inspection in to question and if they failed to see that hole, it is little wonder they missed everything else.

“The hole was reported to the council a year ago and many times since.

“It is disgraceful.

“The authority has claimed this adopted highway is a rural track which misleads the public [but] the duty of care and responsibility remains the same regardless of whatever you decide to call an adopted highway.”

He said that both his and his partner’s cars have been damaged by the uneven road surface – as well as a protruding tree on the road – and said he’s even considering legal action over the ongoing issue, adding: “If someone is walking with a pushchair, they’ve got no chance because they won’t see the hole.

“A child could easily be killed if they fall down it.

“It is a big hole. My son is about six foot tall. He had to stand on a rock so he could see above it [and] they still haven’t put any physical barriers around it, which I find shocking.”

In response to Mr Cross, a spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said: “This is a country track bordered by a ditch which people who drive in rural areas will be familiar with. We maintain it to a safe level, and couldn’t find any large holes at the side when it was inspected recently.

“We will ask Mr Cross for the precise location where the photo was taken so that we can carry out further checks and take action if needed.”