This morning Andrew and I went to visit another resident who has tripped on uneven paving. She’s broken her new glasses as well as gashing her knees, writs and is bruised. All she was doing was walking her dog on a nice evening. Another resident has been so badly hurt from her recent pavement trip, that nerve damange over one eyebrow may never recover – she’s lost feeling in her scalp and when she’s blow-drying her hair, she cannot feel if her skin is getting too hot! People’s lives are marred by these experiences which are preventable if our pavements were improved.

Why are our pot holed pavements in such a state? Why can’t the Council see that by having safe places to walk and cross roads, more people will walk and not use their cars? More people will be fitter, too! Huge amounts are spent on glossy council reports and in staff time, measuring performance against target indicators as well as preparing for inspections when necessary funds would be better spent on real services that benefit people.