Luton pothole repairs leave van driver unable to access drive

Gary Baker said after repairs to a road were carried it he struggled to get his van off his driveway without damaging it

A driver says he can no longer get his van off his driveway after pothole repairs left a road level raised.

Gary Baker, from Luton, said council workmen raised the tarmac surface on Sarum Road so he cannot leave his drive without scraping his van.

He said the driveway has been there for 30 years and he had not experienced access issues before.

The authority said it was working on the problem and further changes would be made in the coming days.

Mr Baker said his brother-in-law had also experienced issues

Mr Baker said: "There were was some potholes in the road, the council's been out and done the potholes, which is great, but they've put the tarmac too high and now I can't get my van in, the front of my van scrapes on the road.

"My brother-in-law brought his Vauxhall round and you can't even get the car off the driveway."

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He brought the problem to the attention of The JVS Show on BBC Three Counties Radio, who contacted the council.

The authority said: "We are looking into the issue, it appears from the photographs that the vehicle has been lowered, however we need to undertake a survey of the area to determine whether the new levels confirm to highway standards.

"If they do not we will remedy."

Mr Baker showed presenter Jonathan Vernon-Smith the damage to his van

Mr Baker said that although his van had been modified, the front was no lower than a standard car and told presenter Jonathan Vernon-Smith he believed the road was now up to 5cm (2inches) higher than it should be.

The council has adapted the pavement, but he can only drive his van on and off at a very specific angle, he said.

After another visit, "they're going to take a patch off kerb to kerb, full width of the road, and re-do it", Mr Baker added.

Workers told him the driveway could be "too steep", but "the driveway's been there for 30 years," he added.