Weathering, repairs to surface, damage by heavy vehicles – they all contribute towards cracks in pavements and loose paving slabs, causing potential hazards to pedestrians that can add up to a bill for thousands of pounds for local authorities.

Pavement falls: the statistics

In the year running up to May 2018, councils in the UK received more than 10,500 claims for accidents on the pavement.

Councils paid out around £2 million in compensation. Hillingdon Council in west London faces claims adding up to £346,596, the highest in the country.

In addition to the financial cost, according to a 2014 study by Help the Aged, 2,300 elderly people trip and fall every day on broken pavements in the UK. If only for our duty of care to the more vulnerable in society it’s important to ensure that pavements are well maintained.

Pavement hazards

These include:

  • Broken or loose paving slabs
  • Potholes in tarmac paving
  • Trip hazards
  • Damaged manhole covers
  • Damaged drainage channels

Claimants are allowed three years after an accident to put in a claim with their local council so are local authorities storing up trouble for the future?

Dropped kerbs

When pavements are repaired or adapted, it’s important to make sure there’s a dropped kerb in the right place to allow vehicle access. According to the Highways Act, 1980, it’s an offence to drive a vehicle across a footway where there’s no proper vehicle crossover. As well as being dangerous, this can also cause damage to pavements.

Globic Groundworks

At Globic Groundworks, we have the expertise to construct or repair pavements of all surfaces – tarmac, block paving or other materials – and install dropped kerbs safely and correctly.

These skills can also be used on playgrounds, tennis courts and even airport runways.

Our teams are fully NRSWA Streetworks accredited and can quickly and efficiently repair damage to the surface and subsurface structure of pavements and driveways.

To find out how Globic Groundworks can help you, contact us now at our Aldershot office on Freephone 01252 312738 or email info@globicgroundworks.co.uk and avoid future problems.