TWENTY homeowners have received compensation payouts of over £20,000 for their property’s devaluation from the Weymouth Relief Road.

New figures obtained from Dorset County Council under a Freedom of Information request set out the range of payments.

The Dorset Echo previously exclusively revealed that some £2million had already been paid out with more than 800 claims lodged so far.

The new figures show payments ranging from £500 through to a maximum of £32,620 with 322 claims settled so far. Some 17 homeowners received payments ranging between £21,600 to £30,000 while three received payments of over £30,000 – at £30,310, £30,800 and £32,620.

Pensioner Clifford Cripps, whose house in the Finches at Littlemoor is right next to the relief road, said: “I had no idea how many people were entitled to claim.

“Most of the people on this side of the estate and on the other side of the road have all got something.

“The closest ones have received the most. I believe one person in Kestrel View got £17,000.”

Homeowners were awarded compensation for devaluation of their property depending on its worth at the time of the first claim and how far away it is from the new road.

Mr Cripps, 78, has agreed a £19,200 payout but has to resolve a legal wrangle before he can claim it.

He said that his detached two bedroom bungalow was valued at £186,000 in 2004 but had dropped to £160,000 by 2006.

The highest number of claimants for a payment was 16 people who each received £500.

Some 15 householders received £750.

The figures show 271 claimants received payments ranging between £500 and £9,945.

There are 31 pay outs to homeowners in the £10,000 to £20,000 bracket.

There are 17 in the £20,000 to £30,000 range and three at £30,000 plus.

Coun Rachel Rogers, who is a Weymouth and Portland borough councillor for Littlemoor, said that the compensation costs had always been factored into the cost.

“I am not a bit surprised. It is entirely fair for those people to be compensated for the inconvenience they have suffered and the loss of value to their homes.”

No compensation

DORSET County Council said that the compensation payments were factored in to the cost of the relief road as part of its submission to the Department for Transport.

The council said that it anticipated a high number of claims as the route was passing through Littlemoor and close to housing.

Noise barriers were erected around sections of road to screen homes. The council says these have kept the number of claims down.

Hilary Cox, cabinet member for environment, said: “The Weymouth Relief Road has been a great success.

“The scheme has helped reduce travel times, improve transport links and has benefited the environment.

“Right from the off we expected to have pay compensation.”

The budget for the Weymouth Relief Road was just over £89million, with £80,696,000 funded by DfT and the remaining £8,575,000 coming from Dorset County Council.

TOP PAYOUTS

£21,600: three claimants

£22,400: one claimant

£22,750: two claimants

£23,800: one claimant

£24,050: one claimant

£24,800: three claimants

£25,500: one claimant

£26,000: one claimant

£26,950: one claimant

£29,750: one claimant

£30,000: two claimants

£30,310: one claimant

£30,800: one claimant

£32,620: one claimant