An Aberdeenshire man, who was billed for more than £200 after his van leaked oil on to the road, has claimed he has been punished for trying to prevent a serious crash.
Nick Fennell, 26, who runs Grampian Carpet Cleaners, was driving along the B977 Dunecht to Kintore road in August when his vehicle broke down after the gearbox blew up.
Mr Fennell, from Ellon, noticed that oil had leaked on to the road near a sharp corner and decided to alert the police in case other drivers skidded on the surface in the dark. More than a month later he received a letter saying he would have to pay Aberdeenshire Council £211.50.
He said yesterday: “It feels like I have been punished for trying to do something good.
“It was a wee country road and just after a bend, so anyone coming around on a bike or a car could have missed it and skidded off the road. I didn’t think I was going to get charged for it. I could have phoned up and claimed that I had noticed it.”
Mr Fennell has sought legal advice and plans to challenge the bill once he has received an invoice.
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “Following an accident or, as in this case, an oil spill, which has been reported to the police, we will receive a report which indicates the owner or driver of vehicles involved.
“Clear-up costs after accidents or spillages can be significant and we always seek to recoup those costs rather than asking council tax payers to foot the bill.”
