Claims for compensation hit £16,000

Published on Monday 29 June 2009 09:58

BURST water mains, cracks in walls and a disgruntled public are some of the occupational hazards you might associate with a £545 million tram project.

But while tram chiefs have taken the blame for run-of-the-mill mishaps, they have also carried the can for everything from ripped jackets to burst bike tyres.

The Evening News can reveal that the city's tram project has paid dozens of compensation claims, ranging from 20 to 10,000. The claims, for personal injuries and damage to property, include 20 for a ripped jacket and 21.98 for a burst bicycle tyre.

The largest sum – 10,000 – was paid out to owners of a cellar that was flooded by work to move utility cables and pipes.

While tram firm TIE would not reveal to whom it had paid money, it is thought the 10,000 claim could relate to flooding caused by the tram works on Shandwick Place last year.

Other sums include 150 paid to a pedestrian who fell on uneven paving and 1,500 to someone who tripped over a temporary walkway, injuring their head.

TIE said 37 compensation claims had been paid since work on the project started in 2007, totalling around 16,000, and that all payments had been made by contractor Carillion and so had no impact on the overall budget.

Lothians MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville said the figure reflected the fact that many people did not know they could claim for compensation from the project.

She said: "I'm surprised that the figure is so low, given the number of complaints I have heard about cracks in walls, damage to gardens and flooding.

"I suspect there's much more to come now we know the project has many years still to run. It's important to ensure that TIE makes people aware that they may be entitled to compensation, because it may be that many people don't know that they have a right to claim."

Earlier this year, the Evening News reported the story of residents of a Leith Walk tenement where huge cracks have appeared in the walls since the tram works began. Those homeowners are currently awaiting the results of surveys to learn whether they are due compensation.

Bob Cummins, head of health, safety and environment for the tram project, said: "It is recognised across all our partners that we all have responsibility for maximising a risk-free environment through our health and safety strategy.

"Public incidents and claims are always given the highest priority."