Compensation scheme and reporting app under fire
MOTORISTS face an ‘unfair burden’ of paying for vehicle damage caused by poorly-maintained roads through county council ‘neglect’, it has been claimed.
West Lancashire Borough Council’s pothole compensation scheme and phone app have been accused of being ineffective and non-userfriendly.
A budget meeting last week heard Labour councillors claim drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists are facing damage, costs, accident and injury risks because of holes in the roads.
The authority’s compensation scheme and phone app are linked to the county’s ‘Love Clean Streets’ services, they said.
Some information appears on a ‘Report a pothole’ page of the county’s website.
But residents wanting help have to make telephone calls or send emails too, they said.
The debate came from a call for action by Labour Coun Carl Coughlan.
He submitted a motion stating: “Road conditions in West Lancashire have deteriorated to such an extent that vehicles are sustaining damage due to poor infrastructure with the cost of repairing this damage being unfairly burdened upon the residents of West Lancashire.
“This council resolves to call upon Lancashire County Council to reinstate the vehicle damage compensation scheme to alleviate the financial strain on residents caused by their neglect of road maintenance.”
Coun Coughlan added: “I’ve experienced the frustration of paying-out for damage to cars from potholes.
“And additional wear-andtear is costly and compromises safety of the roads.
“It’s imperative that the county council addresses this properly. Despite claims the work is being done, the level of complaints is evidence about the lack of road investment.”
Conservative Coun David Westley, also a county councillor, said: “The motion talks about ‘reinstating’ the compensation scheme.
“When was this withdrawn? There is a link and form available on the internet.”
And fellow Conservative Robert Bailey, also a county councillor, said: “The winter had been the wettest since the 1890s.
“Politicianshave no control over the weather, rain or frost, which damages roads.
“But money from the cancelled HS2 high-speed rail project will go towards potholes.
“I have just paid-out £600 for springs on my car. I don’t know what this vehicle compensation scheme is. You can’t reinstate something that never exists.”
He added: “The Highways Act provides a defence for councils, if they can say they have done work reasonably.
“If a council is neglecting the roads, it should pay.”
Labour Coun Rob Molloy said: “Coun Bailey says it’s been the wrong type of rain this winter.
“Living in the north-west, I think we know about rain.
“Conservatives at the county council say roads are improving.
“I wonder if either of our Conservative county councillors could tell me what are the ‘improved’ roads?”
Labour’s Nicola Pryce-Roberts said: “I’ve also had damage to my car. I drive a Mini and avoid some roads because it’s not possible in a low car.
“I’m not just talking about moss roads [built on peat land] to Ainsdale or Birkdale.
“I’m talking about roads to Ormskirk and in the town itself. Derby Street and over the bridge, Are those OK? What is it about them that the [county] monitoring scheme does not pick up?
“I damaged my car wheel on
Stanley Street. Is that road OK?
“I’ve seen some rural roads in our borough being repaired, which I don’t begrudge.
“But I wonder when main roads in Skelmersdale will be repaired, like Railway Road?
“And Ormskirk is our borough town but the roads are in such a poor state I can only think it’s a political decision from County Hall, to punish Ormskirk for returning Labour councillors?
“I would ask county councillors why are these roads seen as acceptable?”
Our West Lancashire Coun Ian Rigby said: “The roads are in a terrible state. I congratulate Coun Coughlan for this motion.
“I had a letter from the county council’s portfolio holder, who thinks Derby Street is fine.
“I fully support this motion. I wish it was stronger.”
Then Coun Bailey said every single councillor had the app for road repairs and Derby Street and Stanley Street were on-schedule.
But Labour’s Andy Fowler said: “I know people who take a five mile detour to avoid Ormskirk because of the roads.
“The A570 from Southport is a disgrace. People have been killed because of neglected roads with deep potholes.”
Our West Lancashire’s Paul Hesketh said: “I’m a bit taken aback by the county council.
“This should be a cross-party issue. The roads are pristine in Preston but we are second class citizens.
“I find it bizarre, no matter what side of the political divide you are. And I have never voted Conservative.”
Labour’s Nikki Hennessy, also a county councillor, said: “This is the number-one issue raised in my emails. There is £160million in [county] reserves. Using just £10million to fix potholes would be good work. But county councillors here voted against that.
“Funding has come through for Stanley Street.
“I was told to keep my mouth shut but it has been said. But don’t ask me about the bridge.
She added: “We’re told not to put photos of potholes on the Love Clean Streets app because the system is too busy.
“If you put information on, you get a message saying the job’s done. The app has a lot of issues.”
Labour’s John Fillis, also a county councillor, said: “Coun Westley says there is a compensation scheme but Coun Bailey says it is not a compensation scheme. It’s not on the internet system.
“Roads across Lancashire are wrecked. Ormskirk, Skelmersdale, everywhere. The app does not fill potholes.
“A special committee has been set up at County Hall for the app, because it’s a failure.
He added: “”Before the last election, [government minister] Grant Shapp said Skelmersdale was going to get a railway station. Then came a letter, saying it was scrapped. Now we here about roads ‘on schedule’.
“Why are we not spending the money now? It’s all promise but nothing is delivered.”
Labour’s Neil Furey said: “I was stopped by a motorist at the Concourse in Skelmersdale who was fuming about a £1,300 bill for car damage.
“He was told by County Hall to claim on his insurance.
“In Britain, we have the highest road tax and fuel duty and the worst roads. We’re hearing about government spending money in 2025. We want to see evidence now on the ground.
“Even the county council workforce says their work is a waste of time.”
Labour’s Mark Anderson added: “I’m glad the [compensation] form exists so the scheme exists. So, councillors can support this motion. “Residents are furious.
“I ask that the information goes on West Lancashire Council’s website, so residents can get information.”
AWOMAN who was sent death threats after raffling off her £400,000 self-built dream home has launched a second raffle in a bid to help those struggling to get on the property ladder.
In December 2020, after being diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition, Jennifer Matthews made the heartbreaking decision to downsize from the five-bedroom detached home in Adlington which she had built with her husband David.
But the normal selling process was complicated due to the Covid pandemic, and after being bombarded with viewing requests when lockdown was lifted Jennifer struggled to cope with the exhaustion.
So she and David went the unorthodox road of raffling off the dream home they had built from scratch along with her prized Ferrari 360 Spider.
Jennifer, who had been diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia in 2016, put their home in Adlington on Raffall; an online forum used to host competitions.
Strict rules and regulations meant that the couple were limited in how the raffle was managed and what information could be disclosed which led to them being inundated with conspiracy theories and scam accusations.
“What happened with this bonkers journey was that we got an awful lot of flak,” Jennifer, now 51, said.
“We got death threats and people who had entered and didn’t win became obsessed and said it was a scam.
“It brought out every kind of individual in society and there was even a hate group set up.
“But we have learned from it.”
The raffle for the stunning home in Adlington brought in more than 452,000 tickets each sold for £2 but legal fees alone cost the couple £110,000. The raffle was won by a man from Birmingham who sold the house - but has kept the Ferrari - in order to pay for his two daughters’ weddings.
Since her diagnosis Jennifer, who owns several rented properties, has started selling them off when they become vacant. And despite the grief that Jennifer and David were subjected to they have decided to once more brave the raffle market.
The couple have launched a new raffle to win a three-bedroom mews house in Skelmersdale which Jennifer personally renovated. “I put it up for sale but two people whose bids were accepted failed to get a mortgage,” Jennifer, who is originally from Wigan, said.
“I felt so sorry for one of the buyers and it made me think ‘if I was 30 like him I wouldn’t have been able to get on the property ladder either’ so I started to think ‘what can I do?’.”
Since Jennifer launched her latest raffle just a few days ago she has already sold almost 10,000 tickets priced at just £1 each. She and David are currently in the process of moving to a newly-built home elsewhere in Lancashire.
Raffall’s terms and conditions state that a minimum of 145,000 tickets need to be sold for the main prize to be given. If fewer than 145,000 tickets are sold, the winner will receive a cash payment amounting to 50 per cent of the total ticket revenue generated for this competition.
If the host achieves their minimum ticket target and fails to provide the prize, the winner will receive a share of the compensation amounting to 75 per cent of the ticket revenue. All compensation payments are guaranteed and paid directly by Raffall.
And despite the hassle Jennifer and David faced during the first raffle, it resulted in much more than the couple ‘selling’ their property.
And through the raffle Jennifer met someone who recommended a cardiologist which has led to her condition becoming stable.
“I just hope we can use this to help someone else,” Jennifer added. “Things are tough at the moment and it would be nice to think that we can get someone on the property ladder.”
Babs Murphy, chief executive of the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce said the establishment of a CCA in Lancashire will create a unified platform for dialogue with central government
She added: “One of the key benefits of a CCA is its ability to provide a centralised vision on critical issues impacting the economy’s growth potential. Improved collaboration among stakeholders in areas such as transport, waste, skills, and economic development would enable a co-ordinated approach to addressing these challenges.
“By leveraging collective resources and working together, Lancashire can continue to prosper and attract investment.”
However, reflecting on the historical and ongoing divisions over devolution in the county, Ms.
Murphy warned of the need to bring the whole of Lancashire along for the devolution journey.
“It is crucial to have a proactive and inclusive approach to ensure that all perspectives are considered and decisions are made collectively.
“This will help to ensure that the interests and needs of all areas within Lancashire are adequately represented and that the devolution deal is truly reflective of the diverse communities within the county.
“Keeping communication channels open and fostering collaboration between the districts and the combined authority will be key in ensuring the success and effectiveness of the devolution deal.”