Council failed to keep footways safe (From Salisbury Journal)

Council failed to keep footways safe

12:23pm Thursday 7th January 2010

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I AM the proprietor of a local taxi service operating in Salisbury and district.

I have recently witnessed some very distressing incidents involving people falling hard onto the dangerously icy pavements in and around Salisbury.

Many of these persons, especially our older citizens, will probably suffer years of chronic pain long after their bones have healed. Without doubt, according to standard health and safety practice, many of these incidents will later be judged as entirely preventable.

Wiltshire Council is duty bound to ensure the safety of the public who use the roads and footways.

The council is legally required to carry out appropriate and periodic risk assessments to ensure, as far as practicable, these areas are safe and reasonably protected for its users.

All road users know that, nationally, councils have to prioritise the salting of the public highway, and that it is not possible to provide gritting and de-icing services for many minor roads.

However, the same principle also applies to high-usage public footways, and it is patently (and painfully) obvious snow and ice can increase the risk of injury to the users if left untreated.

Sadly, Wiltshire Council has failed the public in this respect and it is likely many persons who have fallen in the centre of Salisbury and other high-usage areas in towns and villages around the district may now sue the council for their injuries.

Wiltshire Council’s website clearly states how it will treat footways during prolonged bad weather: “Footways (to include footways, pavements, cycle routes and cycleways) will only be treated in times of persistent ice or snow.

“When this occurs, salting and snow clearing will be confined to those footways where there is a high pedestrian usage.”

Most seriously, contrary to the website statement, when I complained to Wiltshire Council’s “Clarence” the operator told me it was not the council's responsibility to de-ice our footpaths.

It is quite clear to me Wiltshire Council has abrogated its public duty in this respect and an inquiry should now ensue.

DAVID WEISS HAYNES
Wilton

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