Last updated 08:50, Wednesday, 25 June 2008

A WOMAN whose car was damaged when a dishwasher fell out of a skip has spoken of her disgust at the council’s U-turn in accepting responsibility.

DENTED HOPES: Tracy Jesson is upset that the council is quibbling over who should pay for her car, which was damaged at the local tip JON GRANGER REF: 0435802

She said: “I turned round and everybody was staring at me – a dishwasher that had been on top of a pile of rubbish in a walk-in skip had fallen on to my car.”

Mrs Jesson, 40, then spoke to the tip’s manager, David Lothian, who asked her to get a quote for the damage.

After she did this she was then asked to provide a further quote, which averaged at £1,200. She explained: “I was in hospital during this time so it took me a while to get the second one, and then about three weeks ago I spoke to the manager again who said he would chase it up because it should have been dealt with by now.”

Mrs Jesson was then shocked to receive a letter from Cumbria Waste Management telling her they accepted no liability for the damage caused.

They informed her of a sign at the tip telling visitors of this, but she says the sign is always hidden underneath stickers.

She said: “They’ve already admitted liability by asking for quotes and saying they would pay for it, so it’s disgusting that they’re turning round now and saying they won’t pay for it.”

Cumbria County Council, which manages the household waste recycling centres in Barrow, told Action Desk that they are looking into the circumstances of the incident.

Justin Hawkins, council spokesman said: “We are working with our partners at Cumbria Waste Management, who operate the site on behalf of the county council, in order to get to the bottom of what happened and we will be in touch with Mrs Jesson about her claim when our investigations are complete.”

Action Desk will continue to monitor the case and will inform readers of any future developments.