Council pledges to improve footpath safety

Posted 24/08/2009

Cambridgeshire County Council has pledged to take action to improve the state of the region’s pavements.

The authority has paid out nearly £3 million in compensation over the last five years to people who have suffered a personal injury after tripping up on footpaths.

Councillor Mac McGuire, cabinet member for highways and access, said the authority has pledged to spend more than £3.2 million on making local pavements safer.

“We know we can do better as the safety of our residents is paramount,” he told the Cambridge Evening News.

However, he stated that some instances in which people have suffered a personal injury have been beyond the authority’s control.

For example, Councillor McGuire said some defects can appear on footpaths within several days because of adverse weather conditions.

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker has accused local councils of ignoring pedestrians in favour of motorists.

He warned that failing to maintain pavements could be a “costly mistake” if the paths become unsafe.