COUNCILS across Devon have paid out more than half a million pound in the last five years in personal injury compensation claims, writes local democracy reporter, Daniel Clark.

Freedom of Information Requests to Devon County Council, Torbay Council, and the eight district councils asked for information about personal injury compensation claims.

The request asked for how many were successful and the largest amount claimed and what it was for. In total, £574,431.14 has been paid out by councils, the responses from the ten councils revealed.

But the figures are expected to be higher as Torridge, Torbay and Devon County Councils said they were unable to provide financial information as it could identify the specific claimants.

North Devon Council has paid out £25,326.78 in the last five years in eight successful claims. The highest amount paid out was £6,000 under their employer’s liability due to a defective surface.

Torridge District Council confirmed that they had received nine personal injury claims in the last five years, of which four were successful, but said that they were unable to provide financial amounts due to the individuals being able to be recognised and therefore it is exempt from disclosure. Three of the successful claims were due to trips and the fourth related to a faulty gate. The largest claim they paid out was £13,500 as a result of an injury sustained from a pothole.