Man left out of pocket after car window allegedly damaged by council grass cutters

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An Abertridwr man has been left out of pocket after Caerphilly County Borough Council refused to pay for a smashed car window caused by grass cutters.

William Davies was forced to pay £210 to repair his vehicle after a council lawnmower allegedly flicked a stone through his side window on July 21 last year.

The damage caused significant disruption for Mr Davies, who was using the car to transport his wife to Velindre Hospital for cancer treatment.

A neighbour witnessed council staff mowing the raised lawn above Mr Davies’ home shortly before the glass shattered, he claimed.

The council confirmed team members were working in the area that morning, but formally denied a claim for financial compensation in October 2025, stating negligence could not be proven.

In a letter to Mr Davies, the authority said staff carried out a “brief inspection” before mowing, but argued searching for small stones in long grass was “too onerous of a task.”

Residents had previously raised concerns about building debris left on nearby grass patches by contractors installing solar panels on behalf of the council.

When the council’s parks team revisited the site a week after the incident, staff reported finding building material on the lawn, though they claimed it was not present during the original cut.

Mr Davies also discovered the council had closed his case file in January without notifying him, after he requested the return of evidence photos he had submitted.

Aber Valley councillor John Roberts assisted Mr Davies with his initial claim, but the local authority maintains it is not liable for the repair costs.

Mr Davies said: “All I want is for the council to admit they have done wrong, because this has cost me money.

“I always pay my rent, and if I damage something myself I just pay for it. I managed to shop around to save money on the glass, yet the council still won’t pay. It is not fair.”

A Caerphilly County Borough Council spokesperson said the local authority does not comment on individual insurance claims or alleged liability cases.

“Any claims submitted to the council are considered through the appropriate insurance and legal processes, and we are therefore unable to provide details, updates or comment on specific cases involving individual claimants,” the spokesperson said.