Selwyn Times: March 04, 2020

SELWYN TIMES Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Wednesday March 4 2020 3
News
Driver says he shouldn’t
have to pay for pothole damage to car
• By Devon Bolger
Brodie
Grave
WEST MELTON resident Brodie
Grave does not think he should
have to foot the bill for repairs to
his car after hitting a pothole on
Jones Rd in Rolleston.
The 22-year-old
was travelling
along the road
when he heard a
large bang after
hitting an unexpected
pothole
he says was about
5cm deep.
One of his tyres
blew instantly and the rim has
been damaged to the point of
needing replacement.
He estimates the work will cost
about $700.
“It’s a lot of money for a
young person and I don’t think
I should be responsible for it.
They [council] should at least pay
for replacement of the rim,” Mr
Grave said.
“It is also frustrating that I am
having to use my parents’ car for
potentially up to two weeks. If
it hadn’t been for them I would
have been screwed.”
Mr Grave has been in touch
FRIGHTENING: Brodie Grave was travelling down Jones Rd
when he hit this pothole causing his tyre to blow and his rim to
buckle (inset). ​
with the district council and
Mayor Sam Broughton but said
he was told they would not help
to pay for the repairs.
District council transportation
asset delivery manager Mark
Chamberlain said they are aware
of the specific pothole on the road
and it has now been patched up.
“The council does not pay
for or contribute to repairs to
vehicles. This is a matter between
car owners and their insurers,”
he said.
Mr Grave said he considered
going to his insurer but it would
not be worth making a claim due
to the excess he would still be
required to pay.
The district council has received
nine complaints regarding
potholes on Jones Rd in Rolleston
since January last year.
“The asphalt seal on Jones Rd is
at the end of its life and a reseal is
planned for the next financial year.
Patching will continue to maintain
the seal until then,” Mr Chamberlain
said.
Mr Grave says this is not good
7 MARCH
LINCOLN
enough and Jones Rd has been in
bad condition for years.
“There was no signage there
warning about the pothole. I
understand they have a massive
roading network to cover but
they knew about Jones Rd and
did nothing. Why should I have
to pay for this?
“I was very lucky actually with
the damage I had. If it had been
a lighter vehicle or something
like a moped it could have killed
them,” he said.
Although he is unhappy with
the district council’s response he
said he has been well supported
by councillor Jeff Bland and
James Faber of HEB Construction
who hold the maintenance
contract for the road.
“I just want the council to
figure out how this got so out of
hand. How did they let a main
thoroughfare like Jones Rd
deteriorate for years?” Mr Grave
said.
• HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you
think the council should help
pay for repairs to vehicles
after hitting potholes on
roads in the district? Email
your views to devon.bolger@
starmedia.kiwi
• Birchs Rd roadworks, page 15
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In Brief
HEALTH HUB BUILD SOON
Construction of the Rolleston
Health Hub will start this
month. The facility will be built
on land directly opposite the
district council offices, next to
the St John ambulance base.
The district council appointed
construction firm Naylor Love
to undertake the build. It is
set to cost about $14.7 million,
and is being funded as a
commercial investment. It will
have a primary birthing unit,
community health services
and will sit alongside a general
practice, radiology and other
community health and social
services.
OLD PIT FIRE REIGNITES
Leeston firefighters were called
to a small rubbish fire that
they suspect was reignited
after a previous pit fire. Chief
fire officer Lloyd Clausen said
they were called to the 2 sq m
fire on Irwell Rakaia Rd on
Sunday at 10.45am. “We think
it was an old pit fire that had
been rekindled by the wind. It
could have been sitting there
for months.” Mr Clausen said it
was lucky they got there quickly
or it may have escalated due to
all the dry grass in the district.
At The Laboratory
17 West Belt
Lincoln
Take in an
ice cream or
a drink
Cheap Tuesdays $10 Any Film, Any Time
Buy your tickets online
or from the bar
apollo.thelaboratory.co.nz
Dine at the
Lab before
or after
Great Thriller
2020 Oscars -
Best Picture
Classic Cinema Last Chance to See Super Spy Story Family Fun
Tuesday, 3 March
Thursday, 5 March
Saturday, 7 March
10:30 AM A Hidden Life
PG 10:30 AM Little Women
G 10:30 AM La Belle Epoque M
1:40 PM The Invisible Man
R16 1:05 PM ABeautiful Day in the N'brhd PG 12:40 PM Little Women G
4:00 PM Parasite
R13 3:10 PM Parasite
R13 3:15 PM The BigTrip PG
6:30 PM 1917
R13 5:40 PM The Invisible Man
R16 5:10 PM Mr. Jones M
8:35 PM La Belle Epoque
M 8:00 PM 1917
R13 7:30 PM The Invisible Man R16
Wednesday, 4 March
Friday, 6 March
Sunday, 8 March
10:45 AM Mums &Bubs Judy M 11:00 AM The Invisible Man
R16 11:00 AM The BigTrip PG
1:15 PM Jojo Rabbit
M 1:30 PM Little Women
G 12:40 PM The Invisible Man R16
3:20 PM Little Women
G 4:10 PM The BigTrip
PG 3:00 PM Mr. Jones M
5:50 PM ABeautiful Day in the N'brhd PG 6:00 PM Parasite
R13 5:15 PM The Gentlemen R16
7:55 PM The Invisible Man
R16 8:30 PM Mr. Jones
M 7:30 PM Jojo Rabbit M
Extending the 820
Consultation closes
Friday 6 March
We’re proposing to extend the 820
Lincoln-Burnham service to include
Rolleston’s Faringdon and Acland Park
subdivisions, giving over 900 more
homes access to public transport.
Let us know what you think.
See metroinfo.co.nz or call 03 366 88 55.
Sunday
8th March 2020
10am - 2pm
Tai Tapu Hotel Grounds
780 Old Tai Tapu Road
Tai Tapu
Local Produce - Crafts - Pony Rides
Bouncy Castle - Fantastic Raffle Prizes
Have your say.