BROKEN bollards and uneven paving in Pershore are causing serious injury risks to residents and damaging the appearance of the town centre, a concerned councillor has claimed.
Coun Chris Parsons spoke out at a Pershore Town Council meeting last Thursday (July 17) and called for urgent action to be taken after seeing nothing done since reports of the uneven paving were made to council officers as far back as 2009.
The former mayor told fellow members nothing had been done about the ‘cock eyed’ bollards despite numerous reports being sent to county council officers over the past few years.
Coun Parsons also expressed concerns trees were not being cut at Broad Street which was also having an impact on the town centre’s appearance.
“Pershore hosts a number of prestigious events in the town centre which bring in lots of visitors and what do we have to promote it? Bollards which are cock eyed and out of place which have been like that for a long time.” Coun Parsons said.
“I understand uneven paving in the town was first reported in 2009. I am getting complaints people are tripping over, something needs to be done. I can’t believe nothing has been done since then.
“I had a complaint today (Thursday), one person in Broad Street on a dull day has to have the lights on because the trees are excluding so much light.
“I don’t think it is acceptable to see our town centre disintegrated in this way. This is not the way we should promote our town centre.”
Last year the Observer reported how fellow councillor Val Wood threatened to take matters into her own hands if the county council did not fix a broken bollard outside Tesco on High Street which she claimed could hurt a child.
Coun Wood added: “Someone is going to get really badly hurt if something isn’t done.”
Coun David Tannis agreed with the concerns made but felt the appearance of the town centre was not as bad as other places after recently visiting seaside town Worthing in Sussex.
His comments provoked a stern response from Coun Parsons who said: “I don’t care what is happening in Worthing, I care about Pershore.”
In response, Worcestershire County Council chiefs said they were unaware of problems with the bollards.
Coun John Smith, responsible for Highways at the county council, said: “We are not aware of the issue surrounding bollards and will request an inspector to visit the site and report back.
“The County Council is aware of the trees in Pershore and has been monitoring them for some time. “At present they do not pose a safety risk and there is no action to be taken.”
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A councillor has claimed broken bollards and eneven paving are ruining the appearance of Pershore Town Centre.
Picture by Alex Bradbury 1814017ABR1
