David hopes for pay-out after mix-up

A CLASSIC car enthusiast who lost valuable vintage parts when his garage was cleared by workmen, hopes his case for compensation will soon be settled.

As revealed by the Chronicle, David Bradbury was left distraught after his rented garage was emptied by Oldham Council without his knowledge — with a VW Polo crushed and classic car parts disappearing.

The parts were being saved for a 1933 Morris Ten-Six two-door coupe, one of only three in the UK, which he has owned for 30 years and is renovating elsewhere. The rare car is not restorable without the scarce parts.

He estimates the blunder could cost him tens of thousands of pounds and Oldham Law Centre is helping him take legal action.

Oldham Council has now asked him for a valuation of the missing parts.

Mr Bradbury is also hopeful of recovering some of the parts and is appealing for anyone who may have found items to return them.

In particular, a nickel-plated radiator cowl with the inscription ‘Morris Ten’ on the top has been removed from a radiator.

Mr Bradbury added: “Whether the council agrees with my valuation or not is another thing, and there was an item in the Polo worth £5,000. It’s a very difficult situation.”

A set of steel wings, green leather upholstery, a walnut veneer dashboard, a chrome headlamp and carefully labelled parts such as engine valves and pistons have also vanished.

Mr Bradbury had rented the garage in Tomlinson Close for several years, but says the block of four was emptied by a demolition gang on October 3 without his knowledge.

The council said the tenancy was terminated in July, but he says he did not receive a termination notice.

Mr Bradbury also wants to hear from anyone who may have suffered losses through garages cleared in similar circumstances.

He has praised the law centre for its help and says it’s vital for people in similar situations unsure about their legal rights.

He says it is struggling to survive due to cuts in funding and he has set up a fighting fund to help keep it going.

Donations can be made to Oldham Law Centre, Archway House, Bridge Street, Oldham, OL1 1ED.