Council to pursue hit and run drivers

Crackdown . . . drivers who cause damage face bills for repairs and office costs

TOUGHER action will be taken against drivers whose vehicles damage Oldham Council signs, walls and street lamps.

Hit-and-run motorists who drive off and leave the damage for the council to clear up will be pursued for the cost of repairs, as well as legal and office costs.

And residents are being asked to shop any vehicle they spot crashing into walls and street furniture.

Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, is leading by example. In recent weeks he has taken the registration of a 40ft lorry which swung round and demolished a bus stop with its back end.

He added: “A couple of weeks ago a vehicle came off a trailer and went through two sets of railings so I took photos and passed them to the council, and the company has paid in full.

“These bills run into thousands of pounds. Money is tight and will be getting tighter, and when the damage happens we all pay for it as council-tax payers.

“I am not asking local people to challenge the drivers, but to note the registration numbers and possibly take photographs.”

If police are called to accidents they already pass driver details to the council, which attempts to get the money back for repairs through insurance companies.

If police are not called, highways officers are going to knock on doors and see if local residents can help. And if they do trace the driver, they will try and recover the costs, whether they are insured or not.

Detailed records of all the damage will be logged, and regular case conferences will be held by highways staff and legal officers where action is being considered.