Compensation for Major Road Works

burty_budget

Hi all, not sure if this is the right place but couldn't see anywhere else to put it. Feel free to move it.

Anyway, I am living next to major roadworks which through evening work, general noise, cutting through our electricity supply and disruptions to travel for me locally. I had been informed by a neighbour that, living so close, we are able to claim compensation.

On the grapevine I had heard that roadworks to replace lamposts on a street had provided compensation sums of around £1000-£2000 for residents. Obviously taking that with a pinch of salt.

However I have been unable to find anything about claiming compensation for anything other than loss of value when it comes to property. I am a private tenant currently.

Can anyone help point me in the right direction/provide information/help?

Throbbe

If you've suffered a loss, such as the contents of your freezer, during the power outages, then I think it's worth claiming off the contractor.

Generally speaking the highway authority have a right (and a duty) to maintain public highway, and I'm unaware of compensation payments being made for disruption. There was a spate of solicitors doing letter drops in advance of local schemes relating to conpensation for increased noise levels, but again, I'm not aware of any successful claims, although in those instances additional noise barriers were provided.

I have heard of residents being offered hotel accomodation during noisy works (IIRC there was something on a TV programme about the M1 Jn19 improvements*), but I would imagine that would be pretty exceptional, and more of a goodwill gesture than absolute requirement.

I should clarify that I have worked in highway design and construction.

* - actually, it's just being repeated, with the 4th and final episode on BBC2 on Sunday evening at 7pm and the 3rd episode on iplayer.

Throbbe

Also, you might want to ask the mods to move this to the motoring forum where it will get more views.