Huge Sutton Road pothole causes thousands of pounds of damage to vehicles

At least 25 drivers have reported damage to their vehicles after hitting a “crater-like” pothole on Sutton Road, with the combined cost of repairs estimated to be more than £5,000.

Motorists said the pothole caused cracked alloy wheels and blown tyres, with multiple drivers left stranded at the roadside while waiting for recovery. At one point, it was reported that 4 cars had stopped in Purdeys Industrial Estate, each with a blown tyre.

One driver who hit the pothole said the experience was frightening, particularly with children in the car. Leanne Lily said: “I was in so much of a panic this morning with 4 children all scared after I hit it. The person in front of me who hit the same pothole had to have a new wheel completely!”

Others said the danger was made worse after dark. Evan Stobbart said: “It was impossible to see at night. It got me last night in the dark. I saw at least 4 other cars pulled over waiting for call outs.”

Another driver, Liz Penny, described how quickly the damage happened. She said: “I was caught by it too. My tyre blew instantly. It’s so dangerous with the narrow road and oncoming traffic.”

Residents believe the pothole had been deteriorating for days. Michael Chappell said: “It’s been there about a week and has been getting worse over time, probably because of all the extra traffic caused by the airport roundabout being shut.”

Essex County Council, which is responsible for the stretch of Sutton Road, was asked to provide an update following the number of reports.

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: “In order to maximise our limited resources, we have to address the most urgent issues first, however all defects reported to us are assessed by an inspector.

“We greatly appreciate residents’ patience and encourage them to track any issues reported to us via our online ‘Track It’ tool.”

Essex Highways uses a risk-based inspection system to prioritise repairs, taking into account factors such as the depth and size of a defect, traffic levels, road layout and the likelihood of an accident. Potholes deemed higher risk are repaired more quickly, while lower-risk defects are monitored until they meet intervention thresholds.

The pothole on Sutton Road was filled late on Friday afternoon, following multiple reports from drivers.

Councillor Mike Steptoe, said: “As soon I was made aware of the pothole this morning. I contacted ECC Highways. I have been advised that the pot hole has now been repaired. I would like to thank them for there quick action.”

The incident comes shortly after Essex County Council was rated ‘green’ in a national assessment of local authorities’ approach to pothole repairs.

Drivers affected on Sutton Road say the scale and speed of damage highlights how quickly conditions on busy routes can deteriorate before repairs take place.