‘Isolated’ family says giant potholes would prevent emergency services reaching their Holbeach St John’s home

A family say they have been left ‘isolated’ due to enormous pot holes on their road.

Rachel Blake says the emergency services are unable to reach her home along Stoton’s Gate at Holbeach St John’s, while courier vans are now refusing to drive to their property.

Reaching the main road from the two properties down the lane, which is also used by agricultural vehicles, can also be a daily challenge for residents who are calling on Lincolnshire County Council to fix the road.

“I broke my back last year and it was hurting me so much going down that road, and we’ve got a 4x4,” said Rachel.

“I should be able to not be in fear that I’ll damage something in my back again. I’ve really had enough.

“(Breaking my back) was not related to road, but it exacerbated the pain and the problems with the back.

“Ambulances can’t get down here, the couriers are refusing to come. I need the emergency services, since Covid I’ve had heart problems, lung problems and also a broken back.”

Giant pot holes, inches deep and some almost as wide as the road itself, litter Stoton’s Gate, which links Holbeach St John’s with Whaplode St Catherine.

“The pot holes are huge,” Rachel added.

“Working from home staying at home, it affects you. At the end of the day I cant do anything because of this road.

“People have been left stranded after breaking vehicles. I’ve got family who can’t visit because their cars are too small.

“It’s horrendous. I feel so isolated and its very concerning.”

Rachel said her property’s paperwork explains Stoton’s gate is an adopted road, meaning LCC are responsible for its maintenance.

Now the households are calling on the highways authority to help them get access to the main road running through their village.

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“We’ve been fighting for almost four years,” said Rachel.

“The MP, Sir John Hayes, wrote to highways but they said they didn’t have the budget for it.

“It’s a low category road, but we surely have the right to access our house?”

Coun Peter Coupland, who represents Holbeach Rural on Lincolnshire County Council, explained the authority are looking at ways to help.

“We’re on the case but it’s a difficult one,” he said.

“In the past we were doing work in the area and said we would help and fill in the big ruts and dips that lead up to the house, which we did.

“We said we were doing it on good grace as it’s not a road we are liable to keep in perfect condition.

“I’m trying to do the same now. I did speak to the highways divisional manager for the area and he’s got a meeting arranged.”

Coun Coupland explained the road – which he said ‘you don’t want to take a car down – came under the council’s jurisdiction but there was no ‘legal obligation’ to maintain it.

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“There isn’t the budget to tarmac the road and put kerbs in, but we do help where we can,” he added.

“It’s a difficult one as lorries and tractors can go down there.

“We may be able to help but it’s not legal obligation.”