Shoppers call for improvements to 'lethal' paved footpath in Taunton (From Somerset County Gazette)

Shoppers call for improvements to 'lethal' paved footpath in Taunton

5:32pm Tuesday 10th July 2012 in News By Daniel Milligan

A NOTORIOUS footpath in the centre of Taunton is causing numerous injuries to shoppers, it has been alleged.

The pavement footpath stretches down the side of the River Tone and value store Poundstretcher just off Bridge Street and heads towards the Lidl supermarket.

But the paving slabs laid down have become very uneven and Mark Bundy, a security guard at Lidl, said it is treacherous.

He fell over there a couple of weeks ago, smashing his mobile phone and injuring his leg.

He added: “It is very dangerous and I’ve seen plenty of people trip or even fall over.

“In the winter it can be even worse but it’s a hazard all the time – it is not very well maintained.

“I’m just glad I have reported it because, hopefully, it will be fixed and save a lot of people getting hurt.”

Taunton Deane Borough Council and Poundstretchers say the stretch of pavement in question is not owned by them.

In a letter from Poundstretchers to Mr Bundy, they said the pavement is ‘definitely not part of the Poundstretcher demise’ and if anyone wanted to make a claim after they had fallen they would need to contact the landlord.

A spokesman from the landlord’s managing agent, Marcus King & Co, told the County Gazette they would check whether the land belonged to them.

They added: “We take this matter extremely seriously so, after we have made checks to see who the land is owned by, if we need to repair the pavement we will have contractors do so immediately.”

Two other shoppers who were walking along the stretch said they had also tripped or fallen.

Jenny Short, of Taunton, said: “I have fallen over after tripping on a loose block before and it is lethal.”

Another shopper, who did not wish to be named, added: “If you are a bit uneasy on your feet then it is very dangerous because it is very easy to turn your ankles and fall over.”

Have you found the footpath dangerous to walk on? Let us know below.