£10,000 for new-road disruption

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Thursday 23rd Dec 2004.

Hundreds of residents in the Aire Valley were today entitled to ask for up to £10,000 each in compensation if they believe the Bingley Relief Road has devalued their homes.

The Highways Agency is facing hundreds of claims from householders living along the £47.9 million route.

Properties have been leafleted by firms claiming the road has had a detrimental effect on property prices since the first vehicles travelled along it on December 22 last year.

The Telegraph & Argus reported in March how it was believed hundreds of people living along the Aire Valley were putting together claims.

Today was the first day claims could be officially lodged. Money for claims is available under the Land Compensation Act.

It is believed that a dozen specialist compensation firms are acting for residents.

James Broadbent, a chartered surveyor at Peterbor-ough-based property compensation firm Thomson Broad-bent, said the firm was representing several hundred homeowners.

Mr Broadbent said: "Factors which can be compensated for are mainly noise and pollution, which includes light pollution as well as fumes.

"It could take two to three years from the claims being made to a decision being made.

"But is also depends if the compensation claims are being met reasonably by the agency involved so it could take longer if further negotiations are needed."

Staff from the firm surveyed the area earlier this year and their tests showed added noise from the road did occur.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said people had a legal right to claim compensation when a major road was opened if they felt it affected the value of their property.

The amount of compensation is set by one of the Agency's district valuers.

Public notices about the compensation scheme have been published as a legal requirement.

The notices state that compensation levels were based on "physical factors" caused by the relief road which are noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, artificial light and the discharge on to the land of any solid or liquid substance.

Claims can be made up to seven years after the date the road opened.

Shipley Labour MP Chris Leslie said: "There's always scope for miscellaneous compensation if the work has harmed or created a liability for any particular householder but so far no constituents have approached me for help on this issue.

"By and large I've had positive comments about it (the relief road), especially if I am in Bingley town centre."

When the Telegraph & Argus reported on the possibility of claims last March, residents living along the route of the relief road said they had been inundated with mail from compensation firms from across the country.

Many said they had thrown the mail away but others said they would claim because they had been promised cases would be dealt with by firms on a "no win no fee" basis.

But some residents claimed the firms were trying to promote a negative "compensation culture" across the country.

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