Six month wait for damaged Bexhill verge fix

Tim Newbigin, of Rowan Gardens, has been asking Rother District Council (RDC) to sort out his verge after a bin lorry drove over it in September.

Mr Newbigin spent four months emailing the council every other week trying to get it fixed and each time he was told the contractors, Kier, would be told but nothing happened.

Eventually he gave up and now sympathises with other Bexhillians who have complained about verges being damaged.

“It’s really annoying that you spent time and money making it look nice and the bin men ruin it.

“We pay rates and if you make the effort, they should do something about it.”

Rowan Gardens is a cul-de-sac so the refuse lorry has to reverse up the road to empty the bins.

But when a neighbour was having some work done to their driveway, the lorry struggled and drove up the kerb and over Mr Newbigin’s grass, leaving a large ‘dent’.

“I am sure the council will soon be sending out their increased rates bills. Perhaps I should not pay until I contact my ‘contractors’,” he said.

This is the latest in a series of complaints about motorists and lorry drivers damaging pavements and front gardens.

An RDC spokesman said the matter and any damage claims should be dealt with by the contractor.

“We are aware of the issue Mr Newbigin has reported about the damage to the grass verge outside his house and we understand the contractor will be revisiting the site,” the spokesman said.

“Any claim for damage allegedly caused by a contractor’s vehicle would be a matter between the claimant and the contractor.”

A Kier spokesman said: “We are sorry for the delay in fixing Mr Newbigin’s verge.

“We will be in touch with him shortly to arrange to return to the site and replace the turf.”

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