Glasgow City Council ordered to pay £80,000 after Colin Shaw suffered life-changing injuries from a falling lamppost in Glasgow
Glasgow City Council Ordered to Pay £80,000 for Lamppost Incident
Glasgow City Council has been ordered to pay £80,000 after a man was injured by a falling lamppost.
Colin Shaw suffered life-changing injuries from the incident in June 2023.
The council admitted liability at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday.
Statement from Colin Shaw
In a statement through law firm Digby Brown, Mr. Shaw said, “This accident has had a huge impact on my life and I am pleased it has now come to a conclusion.”
He added, “I now request privacy as I continue my recovery and rehabilitation.”
Council’s Response
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council apologized for the harm caused to Mr. Shaw. The council plans to invest £7.5 million in the coming years to replace outdated and damaged lampposts in the city.
The spokesperson stated, “We are very sorry for this incident and the harm this has caused to Mr. Shaw. We accept the lighting column referred to in this case was not properly inspected.”
They also mentioned, “Following this incident, our approach to the maintenance of the city street lighting network has been updated and improved.”
Improvements and Future Plans
The council will now conduct a more thorough risk assessment of lighting columns. A new mapping system has been developed to manage the system more effectively. A dedicated inspection team has also been introduced.
The council has allocated an additional £7.5 million for replacing lighting columns across the city over the next three years.
Comments from the Crown Office
Debbie Carroll, who leads health and safety investigations at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said, “This incident could easily have proved fatal and has irrevocably changed a man’s life.”
She added, “It could have been avoided if the maintenance system in place at the time had been more robust in ensuring a full visual inspection of lighting assessed to be in poor condition.”
Carroll stated, “By failing to do so, Glasgow City Council left the public facing unacceptable risk. This prosecution should remind duty holders that such failings can have serious consequences and they will be held accountable.”
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Incident Date | June 2023 |
| Injured Party | Colin Shaw |
| Compensation Amount | £80,000 |
| Investment for Lampposts | £7.5 million |
| New Inspection Team | Yes |
