PEOPLE are tripping on dangerous paving slabs in Dartmouth, which in some streets are a disgrace, it has been claimed.

Now Dartmouth Business Forum is highlighting problems suffered by walkers on its website.

‘More and more people are reporting damaged pavement slabs around the town,’ said chairman Paul Reach. ‘Apart from the visual impact, the risk of accidents is obviously greater.

‘With reduced local authority budgets we have seen evidence of maintenance problems on our roads and pavements.

‘Potholes get most the publicity because of the damage or accidents they can cause to our cars and bikes, but what about us pedestrians?’

Mr Reach said toursist information centre chairman Angie Cairns-Sharp had raised the issue as damage to pavements had become more noticeable this year.

He said: ‘Clearly if there is any damage in the retail area or the embankment it could result in injuries to both visitors and residents.

‘So please let us know if you are concerned about this problem and we will collate the information and lobby Devon County Council to resolve the issue.’

Among the responses, Phil and Liz Roe said for years they had been ‘begging’ Devon County Council and others to do something about the brick pavement at Bayard’s Cove.

‘Just yesterday an elderly German lady fell near The Customs House and cut her knee and we helped her,’ they said.

‘There are many wobbly or protruding bricks and several serious depressions in the pavement which pond badly when it rains.

‘We agree with the visitors, many of whom have come from the other side of the world to enjoy our history, who say that the state of this pavement is a disgrace with numbers of people falling or stumbling far too often.’

Carole Hart-Fletcher said her father had suffered two falls tripping on raised pavements and another woman had a fall on slippery mossy steps from Above Town.

JD Omadden said he too had been injured after a fall in the Butterwalk area, costing him time off work, an operation on his leg and the stress of putting in a claim and being ‘brushed off’ by different people while communicating with three councils. ‘It’s a disgrace to say the least,’ he said. ‘I am very upset see so many accidents due to bad management of our streets.’

Edward Reach, who runs Dart Gallery in Lower Street said: ‘We’ve complained repeatedly to Devon County Council about the dodgy pavements outside the gallery.

‘They’ve done a couple of botch jobs on it that lasted about five minutes and now they just flatly ignore my requests to have them repaired for the third time since last summer.’

Dartmouth Devon county councillor Jonathan Hawkins said the slabs were inspected regularly by the county council.

‘We have worked with Dartmouth Town Council in the past and are constantly monitoring slabs and paving stones,’ he said.

‘Anyone with concerns can contact me or the county council.’