A severely sight impaired man, who lives in the Bondgate area of Ripon, says that poorly maintained pavements have virtually made him a ‘prisoner in his own home.’
Graham Wilkey, has suffered progressively deteriorating eyesight since childhood and uses a white stick when he goes out.
However, following the coronarvirus lockdown, that kept him at home for months, his ventures onto the street have been limited and he told the Stray Ferret:
“The first time I went out on my own, my stick kept getting stuck in the gaps on the pavement near my home.”
Mr Wilkey, added:
“Rather than going for a walk, it felt like I was having to tackle an obstacle course and that affected my confidence, because of the danger of falling and hurting myself.
“I daren’t go out on my own and feel that I am virtually a prisoner in my own home.”
One of the many cracked and uneven paving slabs on Bondgate
On the rare occasions that he does go out for an exercise walk, or into Ripon city centre, he needs to have his wife Julie with him as he cannot rely solely on his white stick as an aid to enable safe movement.
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Ripon City Council leader, Councillor Andrew Williams, pointed out:
“Mr Wilkey is not the only person with a disability or mobility issues to have raised concerns about the state of our pavements and kerbs in both the Bondgate and Bondgate Bridge area, which seem to be particularly bad.
“It’s not just the poor maintenance, but the adverse camber in some parts, which also poses difficulties for people with electric wheelchairs, or other mobility aids.”
Because of the concerns raised, Ripon City Council has agreed to call for remedial action from North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC).
Councillors, who attended a virtual full council meeting, voted unanimously to contact NYCC asking the highways department to make repairs to the pavement and adjustments to the camber in the Bondgate and Bondgate Bridge area.
Councillor Pauline McHardy, told the meeting that one of her elderly relatives had fallen and injured herself on Bondgate Bridge because of its uneven surface.
She added:
“The situation is getting worse and worse and urgent action is required.”
