DROITWICH’S footpaths and roads are the worst and most neglected in the county one elderly resident has claimed.
Philip Duffy, of Westcroft Road, said he had lived in the Spa for the last 47 years and had never seen them in a worse state.
The 80-year-old added the High Street and Ombersley Street West were particularly bad and in an ‘absolutely disgraceful’ condition.
Mr Duffy said: “If you walk through Droitwich you could almost kill yourself.
“So many people have fallen down there it is unbelievable – I have a walking stick because I have a gammy leg.
“The paths are a total hazard, I cannot understand how when the council inspects them it finds them safe.
“People take their lives in their hands trying to navigate themselves down the street.”
He added he had been complaining to the county council since last October but whenever he contacted them he was told either the weather was too bad or that there was a lack of funds stopping them from doing anything.
Mr Duffy said he believed all the money was being spent elsewhere like in Pershore and Evesham and that Droitwich was being left neglected.
“I have seen people go tumbling down a few times on the High Street, especially elderly women,” he added.
“I have to walk down Ombersley Street West everyday to go to the shops and sometimes it is very difficult especially in bad weather when it is snowing and icy.
“When it rains you also get big pools of water which you have to manoeuvre around – it gets very dangerous.”
Coun John Smith, who is responsible for highways on Worcestershire County Council, said the authority always listened to residents, particularly where there may be safety concerns.
And, he added, Droitwich Town Centre did have a regular monthly inspection schedule where potential safety defects were identified and any remedial work that was needed was ordered to be carried out.
He added any locations where the public had reported issues were also inspected.
Coun Smith said: “There is a public realm improvement scheme currently in development for the town centre.
“Ultimately the focus of the scheme will be dependent on the feedback and suggestions from the public, including issues of footways in the High Street.
“In the meantime, residents who are concerned about the condition of the highway or footways can report them via our website.”
Visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/reportit for more.
* WHAT do you think about the state of Droitwich’s pavements, footpaths and roads? E-mail [email protected] or write to the editor at the address on page ten.
