'Town paths are a hazard'
RESIDENTS are having to foot the bill for “shoddy work” on the town’s pavements with claims that Warwickshire County Council has wasted thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money on work that needs to be redone.
James Charlett, from Stratford, wants the authority held accountable for what he believes is a series of failings over the maintenance and repair of pavements in the town centre.
He argues the council has failed to carry out monthly inspections of pavements which it said it would do. He says repair work is shoddy as replacement paving is put on a thin layer of sand which means the slabs work loose and the problem isn’t fixed. He adds the town is littered with cracked paving, collapsed drains and broken bollards making it look a mess, but most importantly – James says - people are getting injured because the pavements simply aren’t safe to walk on and he should know as his mum has fallen victim to Stratford’s paving nightmare three year ago.
He told the Herald: “Warwickshire County Council has squandered literally hundreds of thousands on shoddy work. They told us they would conduct monthly inspections and they haven't, they misled us. I was lied to and the monthly inspections do not happen. Repair work is substandard and laying paving slabs on a thin bed of sand in a high use area was frankly ridiculous and our concerns have been proven to be correct. This poor standard would not be allowed or accepted by anyone at WCC if it were their own money or their own patio, it would also not be allowed in any other sector so why is it OK with council funds? It’s a complete waste of taxpayers’ money and it infuriates me how this money can be frittered away.”
Mr Charlett has contacted the county council and sent a series of photographs highlighting the worst examples of broken pavements and bollards in Stratford. He said he’s happy to meet with representatives or councillors to discuss the issue.
In the meantime, the council has invited him to clarify locations where the photographs were taken. He’s responded by saying that’s already done in the email sent with the pictures. He argues that some damaged pavements have been a high risk since October and November which to him proves monthly inspections have not taken place. He’s concerned people won’t be coming back to Stratford because of the trip town factor.
“You can’t find a ten-metre area on Bridge Street, High Street or Wood Street where there isn’t a dangerous pavement. Unfortunately, I don’t think I have seen the town centre in such a poor state and there are literally countless slabs moving, bollards have been knocked out and left, there are slabs lifting which are dangerous trip hazards and even a drain cover has collapsed and been left and we’ve got barriers bent all over the place. High Street is bad which is a huge disappointment as the paving is only a couple of years old,” James said.
Whenever his mother - Yvonne Charlett – walks into town now she does so carefully after a fall on a stretch of pavement opposite Pragnell Jewellers three years ago.
It was just before Christmas and Yvonne had got her eyes on a paving stone that was uneven in Wood Street. A split second later she tripped over and banged her forehead and scraped her nose as she hit the ground.
“People came to my rescue as I was very badly shaken,” Yvonne, who is in her mid-70s, said. “I bashed my forehead and sinus and had a nosebleed. My husband, Robert, took me to Warwick Hospital where I was told I hadn’t broken my wrist after I put my arm out as I fell. I found out later from my doctor that I’d got golfer’s elbow because I’d fallen on the point of my elbow and that pain went on for 18 months but it is better now. I’m worried about the pavements in Stratford and the A boards so I am careful when I go into town but I’m not afraid about going into town.”
Yvonne also pointed out that heavy machinery and heavy vehicles park on pavements during the mop meant some small slabs were coming back up again.
