Ton Snorrewind (70) from Oudenbosch feels left out in the cold by the municipality of Halderberge. Last month he saw how a falling tree in Hoeven crushed his new electric car and the cars of twelve others. The victim is disappointed that the municipality still does not give home about the damage settlement. “They just blame everything on our car insurance.”
Ton has thousands of euros in damage. His damaged car may be covered by his own insurance, but the Oudenbosschenaar loses his accumulated claim-free years and has to pay a considerable amount of deductible. In addition, he will have to rely on an expensive petrol car for the next seven months. That’s how long it takes for his new electric car to be delivered.
“They should have kept an extra eye on the tree.”
Ton doubts whether the municipality has taken good care of the trees. Research conducted on the fallen tree shows that the trunk was rotten. Fungi have caused the so-called white rot. A fungus was already seen on the tree in December 2019, but according to the municipality this gave ‘no cause for concern’.
But according to the duped car owner, the municipality has been much too laconic with this information. “If fungi are found on a tree that is more than a hundred years old and they know what the consequences could be, I think they should keep an eye on it. Certainly at least once a year.”
The tree was pruned at the beginning of this year. According to the municipality, no further details were noted. “If this is the only thing and they have not done anything in three years then I think they have been negligent. They are therefore indeed to blame for the accident,” says Ton.
“Butcher inspecting his own meat.”
“The municipality is a butcher that inspects its own meat. We are now being fobbed off with only the conclusion from their own report, but we want access to all inspection reports. If there’s nothing to cover up, they can just make it public.” The insurer of the municipality of Halderberge is investigating whether the municipality is liable for the damage. Ton has little faith in that. “Such a discussion about liability can take years.”
Ton continues: “I also find it strange that we always have to contact the municipality ourselves to arrange things. I brought flowers to the people who brought us home that day. I think that’s quite normal, but you don’t hear anything from the municipality at all. Of course something can always happen and I don’t expect an admission of guilt right away. I expected a little compassion.”
ALSO READ: The tree that crushed 13 cars was rotten inside