THE son of an 84-year-old man who suffered two black eyes when he fell over a raised paving slab is calling for something to be done about the state of the pavements.
David Austin, of Southsea Road in Stevenage, was walking down the path which links Jubilee Road and Huntingdon Road in the town when he fell last Tuesday.
He smashed his glasses and suffered two black eyes and cuts to his nose, as well as jarring his body, causing backache.
His son, Pete Austin, of Canterbury Way in Stevenage, said: “The paving slabs are all over the place. It’s like crazy paving and it’s been like that for ages.”
He said his mum, 81-year-old Edith, fell over on the same path two years ago, hurting her shoulder and causing a blood clot which she still takes medication for.
“All round that neighbourhood the pavements are terrible,” he said.
“I phoned the council and apparently there have been other complaints. I want something done about it.
“Over in the Old Town, things get forgotten. I’m disgusted that nothing’s ever been done.
“There are so many elderly people in that neck of the woods.”
He added: “I made my dad go to the doctors because he got backache. He really jarred himself. His blood pressure is high and that could be because the accident has put him in shock. If anything happens to my dad…”
Matthew Kelley, regional manager of Ringway, a Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) contractor responsible for the maintenance of the pavement, said: “We are obviously very sorry to hear about this incident and are investigating it.
“Roads and pavements in Hertfordshire are inspected for hazards and defects on a regular basis and any potentially hazardous faults found by our inspectors or reported by the public are made safe as a matter of urgency.
“Our safety inspectors follow our safety inspection manual which accords with national good practice.”
Highway defects can be reported to HCC at www.hertsdirect.org/highwayfaults or by calling 0300 123 4047.
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