A DEFLATED Wagga businessman has been forced to fork out more than $1000 for new tyres after a costly U-turn.
Mark Hill’s weekend plans were put into jeopardy on Saturday morning when he unwittingly did a U-turn in the ungated area of a Wagga business.
Mr Hill was shocked that large green spikes were in the driveway of Max Hire.
“I drove out to look at the tractors for hire at Max Hire,” Mr Hill said.
“I did a bit of a U-turn, it was 7am in the morning. I drove, heard a pop, got out and all the tyres were slashed.
“Why would they use road spikes?
“There is no security risk, it is open land and they shouldn’t be allowed to have them at all.
“Never in all my life have I seen road spikes like this in Wagga.”
Mr Hill claimed up to four people per week had their tyres slashed when doing a U-turn on the property.
“It’s dangerous,” Mr Hill said.
Mr Hill’s own business, which operates on Chaston Street, does not have any spikes.
“People do U-turns and reverse out of my driveway all the time,” Mr Hill said.
“I wouldn’t dream of putting in spikes.”
The Daily Advertiser contacted Max Hire.
A manager was not available however an employee said the business wanted the spikes gone.
He said they had been installed by the landlord.
He said they wanted the public to know about the situation and hoped it could be improved.
The property landlord Richard Skellern said the driveway was private property and he had every right to install the spikes.
He would not comment further or say why he had installed the spikes.
A Wagga City Council spokesman confirmed the land was private property.
Mr Hill said he and his wife and planned to go on a camping holiday over the weekend. Those plans were thwarted when his tyres were spiked. As well as forking out money for new tyres, he had to spend money on towing.
Mr Hill has called for greater regulation and signage around the issues of road spikes. While there is a sign in the yard of Max Hire, Mr HIll said it was difficult to see from the angle he was coming in at.
