£43,000 payout for playground splinter

A COUNCIL paid £43,000 to the family of a child who got a splinter after sitting on a playground bench, it has emerged.

The claim was one of 1,600 made against Croydon council in south London in the past three years. Just under 500 were settled by the council after it admitted fault, costing £6million.

Among the successful claims, £18,000 was paid out to a schoolboy who was hit by a javelin during a PE lesson and £81,000 was awarded to someone who broke their leg when they jumped over a gate after getting locked in a councilowned car park.

The council paid out £1.9 million in 2014-15, £1.1 million in 2015-16 and £2.9million in 2016-17 – a total of £5.9million.

John O’connell, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, told the Croydon Advertiser newspaper: “The compensation culture is costing taxpayers dear and every pound spent on settlements or higher insurance premiums is a pound that isn’t spent on essential services such as road maintenance or social care.”

A spokesman for Croydon council said: “All claims are investigated fully if there is negligence or legal liability by the council.”