Derby residents are growing increasingly frustrated with the city’s deteriorating road conditions, which they say is costing them dearly.

Taxi drivers in particular are feeling the financial strain. Ian Wigley, a 36-year veteran of the trade, estimates that his repair costs have soared by 30% in the past two years due to the abundance of potholes.

“The roads aren’t good, our vehicles are tested every six months, so it puts the cost up and we’re spending a lot more on repairs,” he said.

Freedom of Information requests reveal a stark increase in pothole reports in recent years.

Over 1,093 potholes have been reported to Derby City Council since the start of 2024, compared to 1,172 in 2023 and 833 in 2022. The council has also paid out over £3,000 in the past year to settle pothole-related compensation claims.

While the council acknowledges the issue and has invested in road repairs, some residents remain unconvinced.

Martin Laycock, a lifelong Derby resident, believes that the current state of the roads is the worst he has ever seen. “The potholes coming into the city are terrible,” he said. “I had to get my suspension repaired twice last year and I suspect that the potholes are to blame.”

However, not everyone shares this view. Taxi driver Mo Imran believes that the roads he mainly uses are generally in good condition, although he states that some roads are really bad.

He is unhappy with the traffic congestion around the city’s flyover. “I've been a taxi driver for more than 10 years and I think that the traffic is the worst problem,” he said.

Derby City Council has received over £1.2 million in pothole funding from the Department for Transport.

The council plans to use this funding to improve the long-term condition of the roads, rather than just "aimlessly repairing potholes".

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A taxi driver left disabled and unable to work after a horrific crash with a speeding motorist has urged a judge not to jail the young offender.

Asgar Ali, who suffered life-changing injuries in the collision, expressed his belief that a prison sentence would have a detrimental impact on 20-year-old Max Street.

Preston Crown Court heard that Street was driving at more than twice the legal speed limit when his Skoda Fabia crashed into Mr Ali's Toyota Prius on April 28, 2023.

The incident occurred at a junction in Blackburn, where Street overtook another vehicle and accelerated into the oncoming lane.

Mr Ali, who was turning into a side road, thought he had enough time to make the manoeuvre, but due to the excessive speed he was driving, Street ploughed into the taxi.

Mr Ali was thrown from the vehicle and rolled along the pavement, suffering severe injuries, including a brain bleed and spinal fractures, muscle damage to his leg and spent three weeks in intensive care.

Other motorists stopped and called emergency services. Street was walking around saying the taxi had driven into him and the collision was not his fault, the court heard. 

His family described the devastating impact of the accident, highlighting his struggles with mobility, emotional distress, and the loss of his independence.

Despite his own suffering, Mr Ali's son emphasised the importance of rehabilitation for Street, stating: "My dad believes the driver should be punished, but he is young and made a mistake. My dad feels a custodial sentence would have a terrible impact on a young person's life."

Judge Richard Gioserano, sentencing, said: "What a contrast it is to you that the man who was injured still finds it in his heart to think about you when you can only think about yourself.

"You would do well to think about that Max Street and ask yourself what it says about you."

The judge said he had reached the conclusion there was not any real remorse shown by Street. He added: "Mr Ali was clearly caught by your speed that led him into a false belief he had all the time in the world to clear the junction.

"Given you were travelling at more than twice the speed limit - 70 in a 30, you were upon him in a flash. You could easily have killed him. He is fortunate not to have been killed and you are fortunate not to be standing in that dock facing death by dangerous driving."

However, Judge Gioserano said he felt there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation for Street, from Darwen.

He sentenced the defendant to 20 months suspended for two years with 15 days of rehabilitation activities and 250 hours of unpaid work.

He also banned Street from driving for three years and ordered he must take an extended retest if he wishes to get behind the wheel again.

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A Bradford taxi driver has been sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, after causing the death of a headteacher in a road traffic collision.

Fiaz Hussain, 60, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving following the incident on Barkerend Road in June 2022.

The court heard that Hussain was attempting to turn right at a junction when he collided with 61-year-old Jeremy Richardson, who was cycling to work at about 6.30am.

Hussain later said that he had not been able to see the cyclist coming downhill towards him because he was “blinded by the sun”.

Prosecutor James Lake submitted that the safest option would have been to stop or proceed with extreme caution due to the low sun, but Hussain did neither.

Mr Richardson crashed into the side of Hussain’s Mercedes Vito vehicle and suffered injuries from which he later died in hospital.

Bradford Crown Court heard on Monday 4 November, that Hussain stopped at the scene and called an ambulance as other members of the public performed CPR on the injured cyclist.

Victim impact statements from Mr Richardson’s family highlighted the devastating impact of his loss.

The court heard that Mr Richardson was a "highly respected" headteacher and keen cyclist.

In mitigation, Hussain’s defence counsel said it had been “a tragic failure” to see the approaching cyclist.

He said his client, who is married with two children, had worked as a taxi driver since 1990 with an impeccable driving record, but had now lost his employment.

Sentencing Hussain Judge Jonathan Gibson accepted he had shown remorse for his offending and said after balancing all the submissions put forward, he had concluded that a six-month prison sentence could be suspended for 12 months.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Hussain was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and attend rehabilitation activity days.

He was also disqualified from driving for a year.

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A Northfleet taxi driver has been banned from driving after refusing a roadside drug test and blood test.

Rashpal Channa, 45, claimed he couldn't complete the drug test due to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and couldn't provide a blood sample due to a needle phobia.

He was stopped by police in Medway on July 31, 2022, and suspected of driving under the influence of cannabis.

Despite denying the charges, Channa was found guilty at trial in August 2023.

At his sentencing hearing on October 24, he was fined £300 and banned from driving for 20 months.

This is not Channa's first brush with the law. In January 2022, he was convicted of criminal damage after smashing the window of another taxi driver's car during a dispute over fares.

The court heard that Channa had previously managed to get an interim driving ban lifted, despite facing a lengthy disqualification. His solicitor argued that he relied on his car for transportation due to health issues.

However, the magistrates imposed the driving ban and additional penalties, emphasising the seriousness of his actions and the need to protect public safety.

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A 26-year-old man has been charged with a series of offences following a taxi robbery in Derby.

Derbyshire Police responded to a report of a taxi driver being threatened in Hartington Street, off Normanton Road, on Monday, 28 October, at 12:20am.

The suspect allegedly forced the driver out of the vehicle and drove off.

Leonard David, from Derby, was arrested at 1.40am and subsequently charged with:

• Robbery
• Kidnap
• Assault
• Dangerous driving
• Possession of Class B drugs (cannabis and amphetamine)
• Driving without insurance
• Driving without a licence
• Possession of an offensive weapon

David appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on 29 October, and was remanded into custody.

The stolen taxi was later recovered abandoned in Thorntree Lane.

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