BANGS and prangs involving council street sweepers caused more than £15,000 worth of damage

in the past two years, figures show.

Information acquired from a Freedom of Information request revealed from July 2015 to July 2017, accidents involving Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) street sweepers cost £15,017.32 in damages and repairs.

The DWP is made up of seven Dorset councils working together to deliver waste, recycling and cleansing services.

Accidents included reversing into a shop sign, driving into a property’s boundary wall and knocking over a memorial bench.

One driver cost the county council’s insurance team £895.87 when he returned to the depot with a smashed windscreen and could not explain how the damage occurred. When CCTV footage was reviewed, it revealed he had crashed into the back of a parked vehicle with a tyre carrier on the rear.

In January, a driver caused £1,767.27 of damage when they reversed into a bay in the DWP car park and crashed into another staff member’s parked car.

Another road sweeper caused £342.06 of damage when a property’s boundary wall collapsed after

the sweeper drove into it.

A DWP spokesman said all drivers received certificated manufacturer training to ensure they were fully competent in the operation and use of road sweepers. He added that DWP issued all drivers with a handbook and they received annual Certificate of Professional Competence training to ensure their continued professionalism and knowledge regarding driving vehicles for a living.

Mike Moon, of DWP, said: “Accidents are obviously regrettable, but very rare. In the context of the vast amount of work our street cleansing teams carry out, we feel the low amount of accidents that have occurred is not a particular cause for concern. Any accident is thoroughly investigated and dealt with swiftly by Dorset County Council’s insurance team. Following an accident or incident, if it is considered that a member of staff requires further training, this is provided.”