Owners see funny side after road sweeper causes up to £20,000 damage at historic hotel

The owners of a historic hotel damaged by a road sweeper has urged East Riding Council not to punish him. The portico stands as the grand entrance to the lovingly restored Lowther Hotel in Goole, East Yorkshire, which withstood a zeppelin attack in the First World War. But the structure was nearly destroyed by a humble road sweeper this week.



The vehicle was caught on CCTV crashing into one of the columns, almost causing the entrance to the Aire street hotel to collapse. But owner Howard Duckworth believes you have to see the funny side and feels the driver's embarrassment is punishment enough. Mr Duckworth said: "Nobody got hurt, which is the main thing and I think it is funny. The road sweepers have done a brilliant job cleaning up the area.

"I feel for the driver – it was just an accident. A slap on the wrist is fine but I wouldn't want to see him disciplined any further. He is already very embarrassed and that's enough. I would urge the council not to take action. In a few years, the worker will be able to tell his grandchildren about this and have a laugh about it." Masons from York Minster are due to assess the damage which could cost £20,000 to fix.


YouTube link.

Mr Duckworth said: "This is the only sloping portico in the country and was designed that way to support the cannon above. Our concern was that it is 25 tonnes and could easily kill someone. But we have the scaffolding up now to make it safe. It is somewhat ironic that the portico could survive a zeppelin attack but was nearly undone by a road sweeper." East Riding Council says it has already contacted the hotel to apologise.