After cover falls on resident's car causing £600 worth of damage

A resident has told ChiswickW4.com how a streetlamp cover which wasn't properly attached fell onto his sister's car causing more than £600 worth of damage.

The incident happened earlier this year in a residential road close to Turnham Green.

He explains, "We wrote to the Council asking for the car to be repaired - in excess of £600 - under the Council's insurance policy, and were refused. The Council said there were not responsible and I was told I had to prove they had been negligent."

"I then noticed the streetlamp cover had been put back up with electrician's insulation tape."

After highlighting the 'repair' the Hounslow Council believing he had proved negligence on their part, he received a response stating that he had to have proved negligence before the incident occurred not after.

The cover has since been properly repaired but the claim is ongoing.

A council spokesperson said, “This was an unfortunate accident, and the street lamp cover was repaired with tape as an interim measure as soon as it was reported. The cover has now been fixed.

"Our claims handlers, Gallagher Bassett, have been dealing with this and have written to the vehicle's owner.

“The council carries out regular inspections of all lamp columns in the borough. To report a faulty streetlight, visit www.hounslow.gov.uk and fill in the online form.”

July 23, 2009