A SPECIAL team set up in 2007 has managed to reclaim �1 million from businesses and drivers that have caused damage on Hertfordshire s roads. From cracked pavements and broken bollards to mangled roundabouts and oil spills, the claims handling team at Her

A SPECIAL team set up in 2007 has managed to reclaim �1 million from businesses and drivers that have caused damage on Hertfordshire's roads.

From cracked pavements and broken bollards to mangled roundabouts and oil spills, the claims handling team at Hertfordshire Highways recoups money for costly repair works that would otherwise come out of council taxpayers' money.

When an incident is reported, either by the police or by a member of the public, the team start the often lengthy process of tracking down whoever is responsible for the damage and reclaiming the cost of repairs from their insurance company.

With help from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), they get in touch with the vehicle's owner to find out how the damage happened and use this information to decide whether the driver was responsible. If owners do not respond to the request for information, the team goes directly to their insurance company.

The amount of money collected usually ranges from �150 to �5,000. Recent successful cases include a taxi driver who drove through a roundabout, knocking down signs and posts and causing �1,250 worth of damage, and builders in Stevenage who caused over �1,000 worth of damage by parking a lorry on a pavement in Six Hills Way.

Some cases can be more costly, such as an oil spillage from a lorry that affected four roads and was so large that one road had to be resurfaced. The repair works cost over �46,000.

* Anyone spotting someone who has caused damage to highways property can call Herts Highways on 0300 123 4047 or speak directly to the claims handling team on 01707 356545 or 01707 356529.