Path action plea (From Gazette & Herald)

Path action plea

A THEME park worker has called for urgent action to prevent serious injury after he suffered cuts and bruises after falling over on a pavement clogged up with mud, leaves and litter.

Jam Potter, 51, was walking along the unclassified road, which stretches from Kirby Misperton to Great Barugh, towards his home at Glebe Court at dusk on Sunday when he suddenly found himself on the floor, in pain and bleeding from his face.

He said: "I'd just been out for a walk. I usually walk on the road because the footpath is in such a state, but because of oncoming traffic I was forced onto the pavement. I had my hands in my pockets and fell over with a great wallop. I think my head hit the kerb."

Mr Potter, who is deputy bar manager at Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo, in Kirby Misperton, sustained facial bruising and cuts in the fall. He blames the treacherous state of the pavement for his injuries.

Mr Potter has called for Ryedale District Council to clean up the stretch of pavement urgently.

"A lot of people, including my wife and my children have to use this pavement. I think it's time the council came and sorted it out," said Mr Potter, who has lived in the village for 13 years.

The Rev Norman Lewis, chairman of Kirby Misperton Parish Council, said it was "highly likely" that renewed pleas would be made to the district council to clear the footway.

He said: "We have been in touch with the district council's commercial services and they claimed to have cleared the path, but they didn't do a decent job," said Mr Lewis.

Phil Long, the district council's commercial services manager, said he was not aware that his division had been informed about the problem.

Updated: 11:04 Friday, February 11, 2005