City made to pay £7k after employee hit parked vehicle

COUNCIL chiefs have been forced to fork out nearly £7,000 after a local authority employee crashed into a parked vehicle.

The owner of the damaged vehicle, John Duncan, rented a replacement for a total of 19 days at a cost of 4,945 and hit Edinburgh City Council with the bill.

The businessman needed a specialised vehicle with a tow hook to allow him to attend horse shows as part of his livelihood.

His own vehicle needed repairs costing 1,743 after it was struck by the council worker outside his home in Lanark Road in west Edinburgh in April 2006.

Council bosses admitted liability for the accident and paid up 2,965 to Mr Duncan. They refused to pay up for the full rental costs, sparking the court battle.

The council said it had found a specialist vehicle which could have been hired for the 19-day period for 1,678.

Sheriff O'Grady ruled that the council was liable for the payment as the council had only found the cheaper deal after an "extensive search of the internet".

Sheriff O'Grady ordered the council to pay a further 3,782 to Mr Duncan.