Morthoe Couple Sues Devon County Council Over £35,000 Flood Damage Claim

Devon County Council is being sued by a couple who assert that £35,000 in flood damage has ruined a section of their residence. Anne and David Strobel state that the council required three years to fix a fractured pipe that was allowing water to leak into their Morthoe property. The couple indicates that the council is refusing to provide compensation, explaining that even though the pipe was repaired on three occasions, the council now claims it is not its responsibility. Devon County Council has stated it is unable to comment due to the continuing legal proceedings. Anne Strobel, aged 71, reports that the council was initially contacted in 2018 regarding the pipe’s repair, but she notes that it repeatedly broke because it was “old and fragile.” Mrs. Strobel recounts that the Highways office instructed the council’s repair team to place a sandbag over the pipe and then refill the road. She mentioned that her husband had implored them against this action, anticipating the consequences for their adjacent home. The Strobels report that the ground floor of their house necessitated complete dismantling, including the breaking up of the concrete floor. Mrs. Strobel conveyed that they “were horrified” when water started to seep up through the floor. The couple states they lacked insurance coverage for the damage and have been striving to obtain compensation from Devon County Council. Currently, the couple is pursuing legal action against the council in a civil court, with a hearing scheduled for February. David Strobel, 76, commented that if the council had resolved the problem correctly initially, “none of this would be necessary.” Mrs. Strobel asserts her determination not to yield, characterizing the situation as “a matter of justice.” In an official statement, Devon County Council declared: “We can’t comment on individual cases which are subject to ongoing legal proceedings.”