COUNCILLORS have declared war on dangerous pavements in Colchester. 

Labour councillors Lee Scordis and Kayleigh Rippingdale have joined forces as part of a campaign for safer and more accessible pavements in New Town.

To get a better idea of the issue, residents have been asked to identify what they consider to be the most dangerous pavements in the ward. 

Mr Scordis, who is also county councillor for the area, said: "Parts of New Town have some of the most dangerous or impassable pavements.   

“Some of this is due to the type of trees planted here, but also a failure to provide permeable tarmac to stop the roots coming up so aggressively.

Gazette:

“Other areas are dangerous due to the lack of sufficient lighting, including one road where we have been waiting over a year for lights to be fixed. " 

Mrs Rippingale, meanwhile, says since she has become a mother she has found navigating the pavements even more difficult. 

She said: "Living in Harsnett Road, it has become incredibly difficult to move my child's pram across the pavements safely, having often walked in the road, putting myself and my child at risk.   

“Essex County Council has a responsibility to ensure Colchester remains accessible for all residents, instead of allowing managed decline of our pavements." 

Mr Scordis also questioned Essex County Council’s policy on deciding which pavements to resurface. 

He added: “In Old Heath we saw the whole of Old Heath Road resurfaced, which spans over two miles. However, most of the pavement was safe and passable. 

“Meanwhile New Town has pavements in a much worse condition, and these are ignored." 

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: “We take the safety of the county’s pavements, infrastructure and road network very seriously.

“We encourage members of the public to report any defects they find through our online Tell Us tool at www.essexhighways.org/tell-us

“In order to maximise our resources, we have to prioritise and fix the most urgent issues first. However, all defects reported to us are assessed by an inspector.

“Information about our repair criteria and maintenance strategy can also be found at www.essexhighways.org/how-we-prioritise-highway-issues”