A Scottish local authority has been handed a significant financial penalty after a public safety failure left a man with severe, permanent injuries.
Council Admits Liability in Court
Glasgow City Council has been ordered to pay £80,000 after a man was struck by a collapsing street lamppost. The incident occurred in Glasgow in June 2023 and resulted in life-altering injuries for the victim, Colin Shaw.
The council formally admitted liability for the accident at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday 8 January 2026. In a statement issued through his legal representatives at Digby Brown Solicitors, Mr Shaw revealed the profound consequences of the event.
Life-Changing Impact on Victim
"This accident has had a huge impact on my life and I am pleased it has now come to a conclusion," Mr Shaw said. He added a request for privacy to focus on his ongoing "recovery and rehabilitation."
Debbie Carroll, who leads health and safety investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), stated the event could have "proved fatal" and has "irrevocably changed a man's life."
She emphasised that the tragedy was preventable. "It could have been avoided if the maintenance system in place at the time had been more robust in ensuring a full visual inspection of lighting assessed to be in poor condition," Carroll said.
£7.5 Million Investment in Street Safety
In response to the prosecution, Glasgow City Council issued a public apology and outlined a major new investment programme. A council spokesperson said: "We are very sorry for this incident and the harm this has caused to Mr Shaw. We accept the lighting column referred to in this case was not properly inspected."
The authority confirmed it has completely overhauled its maintenance approach for the city's street lighting network. Key improvements now in place include:
- A more thorough risk assessment process for all lighting columns.
- A new digital mapping system to manage the network more effectively.
- A dedicated, specialised inspection team.
Critically, the council has also allocated an additional £7.5 million to fund the replacement of outdated and damaged lampposts across Glasgow over the next three years.
Carroll concluded with a warning to other public bodies: "By failing to do so, Glasgow City Council left the public facing unacceptable risk. This prosecution should remind duty holders that such failings can have serious consequences and they will be held accountable."
