WORCESTERSHIRE’S pavements and footways have been deemed among the worst in the country after more than half were found to be defective – with the repair bill now approaching £50 million.

Shocking statistics released by opposition Liberal Democrats at County Hall have revealed the appalling state of county pavements and roadside footways, with 61 per cent considered by the county council’s own highways inspection teams to be defective and in need of repair.

The council currently spends just £2 million a year on footway maintenance – but officers estimate this budget would need to be almost trebled, to £5.8 million a year, merely to prevent the current situation getting worse.

The cost of getting all the county’s pavement and footways back to an acceptable state has now hit £47 million.

The council’s Tory administration was forced to admit there was a problem after a motion demanding “urgent action” was put forward by Liberal Democrat councillor Liz Tucker at a meeting of the council.

Coun Tucker said: “The council is urging people to get out of their cars – but the truth is that many of our local footways are simply not safe to use.”

The Lib Dem motion described the county’s roadside pavements and footways as “among the worst in the country”, and demanded a three year-improvement plan to begin addressing the problem.

It was supported by opposition Labour councillors, with Labour leader John Buckley saying: “We have to accept there is a problem with footways in this county. We have to address it – it will get worse, not better.”

The council’s ruling Conservatives group has now pledged to look again at the county’s footways maintenance budget.

Derek Prodger, the Tory cabinet member responsible for highways, said: “I think it’s right that the cabinet undertakes a review of the expenditure on footpaths. I accept the figures that have been quoted.

“I can’t tell you I’m going to find £5.8 million today - but I am going to take it back to cabinet for consideration.”

Conservative council leader George Lord added he was “happy to support the motion”.

Speaking after the full council meeting, Lib Dem leader Tom Wells said it was “a disgrace” things had got this bad.

“The longer this goes on and the worse these footways get, the more complaints the council is going to get,” he said. “And this is not just about the way the county looks – it’s about people’s safety too.

“We are going to see more people getting hurt and more claims for compensation unless this is addressed.”

CASE STUDY

POWICK pensioner Dorothy Applebee received £700 in compensation after falling down a pothole earlier this year.

“I was just walking the dog and I went a different way, down an unusual path. It was a hard surface. My foot suddenly went down into a hole and just flung me forward. My glasses shattered and I twisted my foot, my heel was stuck in the hole. It was not very pleasant at all.

“None of the traffic could stop because it’s a main road, and there were no witnesses.”

Mrs Applebee’s local councillor Tom Wells helped her to claim compensation for her injuries and broken glasses from the county council.

“It took a while, at first they didn’t want to pay,” she said. “But eventually I received £700 for my broken glasses which was acceptable. It’s all in the past now but it was not a nice incident.”

Coun Wells added: “I had complained to the county council just a few weeks before about that exact stretch of footpath. That’s why they had no choice but to pay compensation.

“We will see more and more of these types of claim unless our footways are sorted out.”