Published at 13:11, Monday, 16 November 2009

A COUPLE who spent five months appealing over damage to their car have thanked Action Desk for helping get the repairs paid for.

ARCHIVE PIC TO ACCOMPANY

By Emma Preston

Carol and Ted Scrogham of Neville Street, Ulverston, contacted Action Desk last month. They had been complaining to Cumbria County Council since the summer.

Their car had been left covered in tar spots

following roadworks carried out near their home during the last week of May.

Mr Scrogham moved the three-year-old Vauxhall Corsa round the corner to Hartley Street, to allow the road to be re-laid. But when he went to wash his car, he discovered the vehicle’s surface paintwork and windscreen were covered in gritty bumps, thought to be fresh tar blown on to the vehicle.

The couple spent three months repeatedly attempting to contact the council, but heard nothing in return to their complaints.

In August they took their car to a Dalton mechanic and were told the damage would cost £467.47 to repair.

They enclosed the estimate in a letter to the council in the last week of August before going on a two-week holiday. On their return, they contacted their solicitor, who told them to wait 28 days from sending the letter before taking further action.

It was at this point they brought their problem to Action Desk, which got in touch with the county council.

Mr Scrogham contacted Action Desk to say Cumbria County Council and Amey, who carried out the roadworks, had apologised, accepted responsibility for the damage, and were paying for the car to be repaired.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted.

“One of the reasons we’ve gone this far down the line is because I have a lot of pride and joy in my car.

“It would have cost £180 an hour to take the case to court, and if I’d claimed on my insurance, I would have lost my no claims.

“The Evening Mail has made them sit up, it’s amazing how things got going.

“The way you lot have dealt with this has certainly had, at long last, a good outcome. Thank you.”

A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: “I can confirm we have contacted Mr Scrogham and will pay the repair bill for damage to his car.”

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk