A SCOOTER owner from Hallow, Worcester, says he has not received a response to a compensation claim he made against Worcestershire County Council after his bike was damaged four months ago.

Cleaner Malcolm Richings, aged 60, of Park Heath told your Worcester News his new Wangye WY125-23 scooter was damaged while he was riding along the A449 Worcester Road near the Swan Inn at Newland in May.

“There were roadworks going on at the time and all the gravel flicked up and damaged the paintwork,” he said.

“I wasn’t going fast – only about 30 miles an hour – and I could hear the stones coming off the road.

“I put in a claim to the council but I still haven’t heard back from them four months later.”

He took the bike to Bob’s Service Centre on Netherton Court, where owner Bob Granger advised him not to have the damage repaired until a compensation claim had been arranged in case proof of the damage was needed.

Although he submitted a compensation claim to Worcestershire County Council, he has not had a response four months later. Mr Granger said he was disappointed by how the case had been dealt with. “He’s been pushed from pillar to post,” he said.“Worcestershire Highways said it was Ringway’s [the council’s contractor] fault but they said it was highways’ fault.

“I think they do this in the hope people will get fed up and give up rather than pay out – if they can get away without paying they will.

“Fortunately its plastic, not metalwork, so it won’t get rusty in the meantime.”

A county council spokesman said: “We are unable to discuss individual claims, however, we can confirm his claim has been referred to our contractors and he has been informed.

“We urge drivers to take care when driving over recently resurfaced roads and to heed the warning signs and speed limits which are there to prevent damage to vehicles from lose chipping and protect pedestrians.”