Financially-strained Council “salted” the concrete on my private lane and caused £250,000+ of damage. They aren’t covered by their insurance, and they aren’t paying up.

Title: Seeking Justice: My Ongoing Battle with the Council Over Damaged Private Lane

Navigating conflicts with local authorities can be challenging, and I find myself entrenched in a situation that has developed over the past two years. Living on a semi-rural private lane—surpassed by roughly 475 meters of my ownership—has transformed from a serene existence to a full-blown legal battle after an unfortunate incident involving the local council.

Last winter, during their routine gritting operation, the council made a significant error by inadvertently salting my entire lane, which is surfaced with what is known as “farmer’s concrete.” This mistake has since wreaked havoc on the road. Salt is notoriously detrimental to concrete, and now, approximately 90% of the surface is severely damaged, displaying extensive cracking and countless potholes.

In an attempt to rectify this issue, I sought estimates from three contractors who evaluated the damage and quoted repair costs ranging from £250,000 to £285,000. Armed with this information, I promptly filed a claim with the council, hopeful for a swift resolution.

However, my initial optimism soon waned. After months of waiting, it became clear that the council’s insurance policy unfortunately did not cover the incident. To add to my frustration, the council communicated their financial constraints, revealing that they are teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

Determined to seek justice, I escalated the matter to the High Court. After an agonizing wait, I emerged victorious, securing a favorable judgment. Yet, despite this legal win, the council has yet to compensate me for the damages sustained and remains unresponsive to my follow-up inquiries.

The bureaucracy has been exhausting, with my attempts to reach out through recorded correspondence yielding little to no response. In light of these ongoing challenges, I find myself pondering the next steps in this convoluted journey for restoration.

If anyone has faced a similar situation or has insight into further actions I could take, I would greatly appreciate your advice. Pursuing justice is daunting, but I remain hopeful that, with perseverance, I can find a resolution to this distressing predicament.