Is Framfield pothole the biggest in Britain?

A council road repair van found itself in a whole world of trouble when it became stuck - in the pothole it was sent to fix.
A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164723001A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164723001
A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164723001

The council van got swallowed up in the colossal crevice in Possingworth Lane, near the B2192 at Blackboys, which now measures 10ft long and more than a foot deep.

Residents in Framfield say the pothole opened up in December, but the county council only sent workmen to take a look at it last week, which is when they became stuck.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Retired criminal barrister Clemency Abraham, 47, said: “I think it was on March 16. I was bringing my children home at about 7:30. When I drove past I saw, as I was on my way, there was a van stuck in the pothole.

A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164711001A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164711001
A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164711001

“It was like some comical farce. It had become stuck in the hole it was meant to inspect.

“Then, about an hour later, when I was on my way back, another vehicle had arrived to free the van.

“My friend said the man driving the van had told her he just couldn’t believe it and that nobody had told him it was so bad.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The next day, as if by magic, there were traffic lights and cones around the hole, whereas there had been nothing before.”

A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164700001A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164700001
A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164700001

While the incident may have been amusing, Ms Abraham stressed the pothole was a serious problem in the area.

The mother-of-two added: “There is currently only about eight feet of passable highway. No ambulance or fire engine could get through as it is.

“If someone from East Sussex council had been living in any of the villages here and had to face that road every day, I just don’t believe it would have been left like that.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A spokesperson from East Sussex County Council said they were unable to confirm the incident had occurred and could therefore not comment on it.

A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164504001A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164504001
A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164504001

They said: “Every report we receive is acted upon as quickly as possible but we don’t have unlimited resources so we have to prioritise the repairs we carry out to ensure we fix the worst potholes on the busiest roads first.

“The pothole in Possingworth Lane was first reported in December, but was assessed as low priority at that time.

“There has been an issue with flooding at this location.

“We have carried out work on a number of occasions over the past three months to clear drains and the water that has run off adjacent land causing the flooding.”

A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164711001A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164711001
A massive pothole measuring 10ft long and more than a foot deep near Framfield, East Sussex. Photo by SWNS. SUS-160324-164711001
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.sussexexpress.co.uk/

3) Follow us on Twitter @sussex_express

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Sussex Express - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.