THE MANAGEMENT of “poorly maintained roads with low traffic density” was raised by a member of the public.
Alan Davis asked Cllr Paul Fishwick, the Executive Member for Active Travel, Transport and Highways, how the Council actively managed the risk of injury to pedestrians and other road users, including consequent compensation claims, on roads such as South Close.
Cllr Fishwick said that safety inspections were carried out by trained inspectors at defined frequencies, and defects can be inspected and repaired.
Mr Davis invited Cllr Fishwick to South Close to see how the report differed to the reality, something the executive member confirmed he would do.
Later in the meeting, Mr Davis then presented a petition signed by all residents of South Close, constructed around 1961 “and we believe it has never been resurfaced since”.
The petition, he said, “documented the extremely poor condition of their road and pavement highlights the safety risks and cause for remedial action”.
Residents in the street includes people in their 70s and 80s, with several having mobility issues.
“There are broad areas where the tarmac has worn away exposing bare concrete,” he said. “The pavement is infested with weeds, grasses and extensive areas of slippery moss.”
“Our biggest concern is not the appearance, but the safety of residents and other uses which we believe is compromised.”
As part of this, he said that one resident, who needed a walker for support, felt they had to walk on the road, while another with a mobility scooter said the “road surface actually loosens Its nuts and bolts when she’s trying to use it”.
