Help at hand over Bradford pavement woes
CONCERNED councillors are to ask highways bosses to investigate why pavements in part of Bradford on Avon have been left uneven and difficult for those with reduced mobility to use, following a complaint by an elderly resident.
Cllr Jim Lynch said he would investigate the state of pavements along the Winsley Road.
Mrs Sheila Blethyn, of Winsley Road, says the uneven pavements on the side of the road leading to the Co-op store from the Winsley direction have almost caused her to trip and fall.
Speaking to the Wiltshire Times, the great-grandmother said: "I complained to Winsley Parish Council about six months ago.
"They said Wiltshire Council was responsible for the highways and pavements but nothing came of that.
"The pavements are uneven where they have dug holes and then relaid new asphalt. They haven't smoothed them over and levelled them off.
"It is like going over a bump or down a dip. The closer you get to the Co-op the worse it gets.
"There is also a metal grid at the end of a driveway which is not level with the pavement.
"It makes the surface very uneven and causes problems when walking."
Mrs Blethyn, a retired primary school teacher, takes the 10-minute walk from her home to the Co-op regularly, to do her food shopping, as do many of the elderly people living in the area.
She says the uneven pavement is making life difficult for elderly people like herself and is a trip hazard.
"I don't like walking up there unaccompanied. I haven't fallen yet but I feel that sometimes I am going to, because of the unevenness of the pavements.
"My friends and I have talked about it but no-one has made an official complaint except me. The solution would be for them to re-asphalt the pavement and level it off," she said
Cllr Lynch said he would contact Mrs Blethyn to discuss the problem and pledged to look into the issue.
He said: "I have looked at the pavement and I can see what the problem is.
"We will be in touch with the local Community Area Transport Group, who will respond as quickly as possible."
Wiltshire Council were asked to comment on the state of the pavements but had not been able to get back to the Times before the paper went to press.
Cllr Bridget Wayman, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: "This footway is a well-used by shop customers, but we have not had any reports of the pavements being in poor condition in this area.
"However, we are arranging for the footway to be inspected, and if there are any defects that meet the levels required for repairs, we will add this pavement to our repairs programme.
"If people spot any issues on our pavements or roads, they can report them with My Wiltshire at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/mywiltshire-online-reporting."
