A BUSINESSMAN has claimed the road to his premises is “not fit for purpose” and is threatening to stop paying his rates.

Tommy Neal, who owns a scrapyard in Haygate Lane, Pickering, said the road was littered with potholes, which is causing damage to vehicles using it.

“Ten years ago I put in a planning application and was told I needed to install laybys all the way down the road, which cost me £10,000,” he said.

“I didn’t have the money, so I had to borrow it. Now the boot is on the other foot, but the council has said there is no money to repair the road.”

Mr Neal said he had complained to North Yorkshire County Council for a number of years about the potholes, saying the road needed resurfacing rather than just repairing.

“My children have nice cars now and these pot holes are causing a lot of damage,” he said.

Mr Neal said he also had a number of units on his premises, which were rented out to people who were all concerned about the road.

“The entire road needs resurfacing, but I’ve been told it doesn’t qualify for enough points, yet Ings Lane in Pickering was resurfaced recently and there is nothing wrong with that,” he said.

“I had to find the money when I needed to install the laybys, so why can’t they do the same.

“The whole situation is getting me down and I have got better things to do than fight this, but I am determined to go all the way.

“The road is not fit for purpose and if something is not done about it soon, I will stop paying my business rates and take the matter further.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said: “Haygate Lane is monitored within a robust safety inspection regime and the Highways Officer was out on site on March 14.

“The most serious potholes were repaired and the rest will be dealt with by mid-April.’