County Council's maintenance policy a 'danger to the disabled'

2.07.00pm GMT Tue 6th Jan 2009

Ros Webb & Stephen Robinson inspect the site where Cllr. Webb tripped

The latest victim of the cutbacks in footpath maintenance is local Councillor Ros Webb. She tripped and injured herself on uneven block paving in Market Square, Chelmsford town centre.

Cllr. Webb, who walks with a stick, had to spend 10 hours in casualty after suffering facial injuries including a broken nose, and needed a new pair of glasses after the incident.

Said Cllr. Webb (Liberal Democrat, The Lawns ward) "For people like me with mobility problems, the lack of maintenance of our pavements is a real danger. It is disgraceful that they have been allowed to get to this state".

Chelmsford Parliamentary Candidate Stephen Robinson commented "Since January 2008, potholes and pavement trips have been allowed to get bigger and left longer before being fixed.

"It is funny that as we come up to election time, the Conservative administration are trying to persuade us that they want to sort this problem out".

Local Liberal Democrats would like to hear from anyone else who has been injured by the state of the pavements or roads in the area to demonstrate to the County Council how misguided their current maintenance policy is. Please contact us by emailing info@cmld.org.uk, or by ringing 01245 358903.