A SINGLE mum left with a repair bill of £1,100 after her car hit a pothole in Dunfermline has been told she won't get compensation from Fife Council.

Laura Niven told the Press this week that she was "disgusted" when she heard the decision which she will now be appealing.

The 33-year-old, a mum of two, commented: "I think the decision is ridiculous.

"I don't think it's fair at all.

"I was very angry when I heard the outcome and I really am disgusted by it."

As previously reported by the Press, on February 28 she had been driving from Crossford to Dunfermline when her car met the crater on Pittencrieff Street just four days after the council had identified it as a category two pothole on a routine inspection.

Laura was told by the claims handlers that they were unable to "identify the defect" despite Fife Council filling in the crater on the Monday following the incident.

It caused damage worth £1,100 to her Kia Ceed which her mum and step-dad paid to be fixed.

A consumer champion who specialises in motoring disputes, Scott Dixon, has been acting on her behalf in pursuit of the financial compensation.

He told the Press: "Fife Council will blame coronavirus for not being able to deal with it until now, yet in reality it's only because I have shone a spotlight on it through the Dunfermline Press and Twitter.

"This pothole is being hit from three different directions, both ways from Pittencrieff Street in to Coal Road and direct from William Street to Coal Road.

"It's up there with the Great Wall of China as one of the most distinctive landmarks visible from space!

"There's no way that pothole has been repaired to a Cat 2 criteria or even been correctly identified as such.

"Fife Council are one of only two per cent of councils across the UK that don't use Fix My Street (a website that allows people to inform their local authority on where potholes and other road faults are located), which is quite telling.

"That aside, I have been able to find the road defects from space using Google Earth and Google Street View, so this is a problem hotspot that has been ongoing for years.

"The claims stoppers are not going to help me or respond to this, so I will submit a FOI request to get all the answers I need to nail it for Laura.

"It's going to take me some time, but I remain resolute in getting this resolved for her."

Those handling the claim on behalf of Fife Council said they are, "unable to offer any financial compensation on behalf of our client".

A spokesperson said: "Fife Council first became aware of the defect in question during a routine inspection carried out on February 24 2020.

"Category 2 repairs were instructed which allows the Council five working days to carry out the necessary repairs.

"It is accepted by the courts that local authorities have limited budgets and that the Council must operate an assessment system to prioritise maintenance work depending on the level of repair required.

"This assessment takes into account the condition of the carriageway and footway, vehicular and pedestrian use and other relevant factors to allow the department to make best use of its limited funds.

"Unfortunately, the Council could not complete repairs before February 28. However as the Council has a reasonable inspection and repair system in place we do not consider they will be held legally responsible for this unfortunate incident.

"Whilst we are sorry to learn of the damage sustained to Miss Niven’s vehicle, we are unable to offer any financial compensation on behalf of our client."