The ‘treacherous’ city pavement that residents are tripping up on

Ted Peskett Local Democracy Reporter

Residents say they have had enough of a “treacherous” area of pavement on a city street that keeps tripping people up.

One Cardiff resident called the patch of loose and misshapen pavement on Wentloog Road, Rumney “shocking” and another said she witnessed a man nearly fall out of his wheelchair going over it.

Cardiff Council said the land where the loose pavement was located was not considered to be within council ownership and that the reported issue would be investigated further.

“Death trap”

Sarah Budd, who lives near Wentloog Road, said she had noticed the issues with the pavement for more than a year.

“It is a death trap,” said Sarah, 45. “As you can see, if you are walking on any of these, they will lift up and it is like you are playing chess on a deathly board. It is not good.

“There is a corner there that is most lethal. You have really got to give it a wide berth.”

The patch of loose pavement is located opposite the Well Pharmacy and Lifestyle Express store.

There is also another smaller patch of loose paving stones on the corner of Wentloog Road and Brachdy Road.

Sarah said she had witnessed someone trip on the larger patch of loose pavement and that the issue was well known in the area.

She added: “If there is anyone elderly, anyone in a wheelchair or on a mobility scooter, you have really got to be careful because it is lethal.”

Worries

Cardiff Council carried out regeneration work on Wentloog Road in 2016 which included putting in new paving along the shop fronts.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that investigation work on the pavement along Wentloog Road will involve working out the status of the land and why it isn’t adopted, if that turns out to be the case.

Another resident who walks along Wentloog Road every day, Siobahn Poole, said: “It is dangerous. Many people have fallen, especially the elderly and children… running down to the school.”

She said she had also tripped over the loose pavement.

Siobahn, 35, said: “I have tripped over it a few times, thinking I have tripped over my foot… but I have never, touch wood, fallen. I’ve caught my balance.”

She added that she was worried for her daughter’s safety walking along the road: “She has long life injuries. She has skin grafting on her head and if she falls, that could easily come undone. It’s dangerous.”

Bernard Harrington said the paving on the corner of Wentloog Road and Brachdy Road wasn’t as bad and that he didn’t have many complaints about that section.

However, on the section of paving opposite the pharmacy and shop, he said: “Right here, this is the bad part isn’t it? Just by here.” Bernard, 72, said he also worried about the safety of people walking along the road.

He added: “I know a few people who have knocked on my door and complained to me.

“You can see it is collapsing already. It is coming in on itself. They haven’t done a good job.”

A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “According to current council records, the land where the reported issue is located is not considered to be within council ownership.

“However, to ensure due diligence, the reported issue will be investigated further.”