BRENTWOOD: New paving is like walking on 'ice rink'

By mdevonport

SHOPPERS have described new paving stones as being like an ice rink as the rain hit the High Street this week.

Several residents called the Gazette to complain about the larger paving stones installed along the High Street as part of the £7 million improvement works, saying they had lost their footing while walking on them after the rain.

John Carruthers, 65, said he thought the paving stones were dangerous.

"I came round the corner from St Thomas' Road to the High Street and I nearly went flying – it was like a skating rink," he said.

"It's very dangerous.

"When I moved away from the granite squares onto the smaller squares I was fine."

Debbie Elam, Practice Manager at New Surgery, Brentwood said it was a problem they had noticed at their doctor's practice.

"There has been a patient that fell and injured themselves and also patients have been remarking to us that the pavement in the High Street is like a skating rink.

"Our own receptionist told me she had done the splits twice."

One trader said one of his elderly customers had slipped over in the High Street and, when she went to the doctors they told her she was not the first to have come in with such a complaint.

However, a spokesman for Essex County Council, said there was no such problem.

"The reconstituted granite paving is being used in town centres across the UK and has been tested for slip resistance to the latest British standards," he said.

"We consulted widely on the use of this material and it enhances the high street and gives it a superior effect in keeping with Brentwood's heritage."

Speaking at a Brentwood Council meeting on Wednesday, chair of the Highways Panel Cllr Lionel Lee also reacted strongly to claims the stones were too slippery.

"This isn't slippery – I've tried it and many people have tried it," he said.

"They are putting out false statements that is causing people to think it is slippery.

"I'm partially disabled. I would not want to walk on material that would cause me to slip over."

"This is something that is being put round that is totally untrue."

He added that the stones were put in place following full consultation with all groups including guide dogs for the blind and that contractors keep an incident log of all accidents.

What's your experiences of the new High Street paving slabs? Let us know by calling 01245 603408 or email editorial@gazettenews.co.uk

While the High Street works are ongoing, five crossing points are now available to pedestrians.

Crossing points at Wilson's Corner, Thomas Cook, KRISP, McDonalds and Mr Savile are in place while the road is resurfaced.

Leader of the council Louise McKinlay said: "We do appreciate the High Street being closed to vehicles is an upheaval, but hope residents and retailers can see the quality of the finish and will enjoy the benefits of the improvements in the long run."

For a full High Street works update see page 11