Pavements for People

Pavements
for People

Common access issues,
who is responsible and
how to report it.

Introduction Contents

Walking should be the natural choice for Rubbish & Recycling.................................................... 2
everyday local journeys. Keeping pavements Litter in Hedges ............................................................2
clear for people, particularly those with mobility Litter on Pavements .....................................................3
and sight loss challenges, is vitally important Overflowing Litter Bins .................................................3
so that they can move freely and safely. This Litter on the Verge ........................................................4
resource has been developed to pinpoint the Leaf Litter & Fallen Branches .......................................5
type of challenges faced by older people, to Parking on Pavements...................................................5
inspire confidence to report any issues, and Hedges, Shrubs,Tree Branches & Brambles ..................6
to achieve a better walking environment to Roadworks Signage .....................................................6
encourage people to walk more. Broken or Damaged Pavement Surface...................... 7
This resource was initiated by the Age Café Tables, Chairs & Patio Heaters ............................7
UKIW Older Person’s Steering Group and Skips, Scaffolding & Hoardings ....................................7
has been co-produced by members of the Advertising Boards .......................................................7
Group, the Age Friendly Island team, and Installation of Tactile Surfaces ......................................8
Island Roads. Street Signage, Lamp Posts & Light Columns .............9
Utility, Manhole & Gully Covers ....................................9
1 Dropped Kerbs ...........................................................10
Siting of Planters on Pavements .................................10
Siting of Street Furniture ............................................10

If you would like a copy of this booklet in
large print, please contact us by emailing
[email protected] or call 525282

Rubbish & Recycling Litter in Hedges

Wheelie bins and bags that Litter from unemptied street bins, fly
are left out for long periods tipping or dropped litter is unsightly
can block the pavement for and can blow onto pavements,
pedestrians and wheelchair people and hedges.
users, forcing them into the
road or presenting a trip About 5% of the Island’s hedges
hazard. Bins and bags should are maintained by Island Roads
be put out after 7pm the night but most are the responsibility of
before collection and removed the property owner or landowner.
promptly. Refuse collectors Hedges on council-owned land
should replace bins and bags (e.g. parks) are the responsibility
carefully so as not to obstruct of the Isle of Wight Council. Island
the pavement or road. Roads clear litter from the highway
side of hedges and verges.
Report to: Amey Waste
Phone: 01983 823777 Report to: Island Roads
Online: fms.islandroads.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01983 822440

2

Litter on the Pavement Overflowing Litter Bins

Litter that has been dropped on the pavement Litter from unemptied street bins or from
or thrown from vehicles can cause trips rubbish dumped next to bins can cause trips,
and falls, and hazardous waste can cause falls and serious injury. Island Roads operate a
serious injury. system of litter bin emptying across the Island,
which has been agreed with the Isle of Wight
Island Roads adopts a street cleansing Council as follows:
regime, agreed with the Isle of Wight Council.
Each street is assigned to a particular zone, From October to April, litter bins in town centres
defined by factors such as housing density, are emptied on a daily basis, and three times a
traffic use, public usage and the presence week along the esplanades and in residential
of retail premises. A cleansing frequency areas. From May to September, litter bins
is then applied to each zone. For example, in town centres and along esplanades are
a residential street will be cleansed less emptied on a daily basis, and in residential
frequently than a main shopping street. areas, three times per week. Between June
and August, when visitor numbers are at their
Currently, town centres are manually swept peak, litter bins are emptied in town centres
on a daily basis, and esplanade areas are and on esplanades twice a day.
swept weekly during the winter months and
daily during the summer months. Residential Island Roads and the Isle of Wight Council
and rural roads are swept mechanically encourage people to dispose of their litter
(using a road sweeper) and manually swept responsibly and to realise that bins have limited
on a varying frequency, according to the capacity. When a bin is full, litter should not be
intensity of pedestrian use. placed alongside it, but should be placed in an
empty bin nearby or taken home and disposed
Report to: Island Roads of there.
Online: fms.islandroads.com
Email: [email protected] Report to: Island Roads
Phone: 01983 822440 Online: fms.islandroads.com
Email: [email protected]
3

Litter on the Verge

Carelessly discarded litter on highway verges and
hedgerows can become more visible when verges
and hedgerows have been trimmed. Island Roads is
required to provide a fixed number of grass cutting and
cleansing visits each year.
Island Roads and the Isle of Wight Council appeal to
people to dispose of their litter responsibly and, if litter
bins are full, to take rubbish home with them.
Report to: Island Roads
Online: fms.islandroads.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01983 822440

4

Leaf Litter & Fallen

Branches Parking on Pavements

Leaf litter and fallen branches can Blocking the pavement forces
cause problems during autumn and pedestrians and wheelchair users
high winds. They can block gullies, into the road or prevents them from
drains and manholes. They can completing their journey. Driving
also cause a trip hazard, pavement on the pavement, partially or fully
blockage or potential flooding. parking on the pavement and

causing an obstruction are all illegal.
Island Roads deploy additional However, due to inconsistencies in
mechanical and manual sweeping the law, drivers often get away with
resources between October and this, without penalty.
December. Locations that experience

increased leaf fall are scheduled for The outcome of Government
regular visits to remove leaf litter and consultation to define the law and
branches. enforcement responsibility is yet to

Report to: Island Roads be announced.

Online: fms.islandroads.com Report to: Isle of Wight Council
Call: 01983 821000
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01983 822440

5

Hedges, Shrubs, Tree Branches & Brambles Roadworks Signage

Any obstacle jutting out over the pavement can cause an Roadwork signs are installed to inform road
obstruction or hazard to pedestrians and mobile scooter users. users of planned roadworks or improvements.
They are put out by both contractors working
Some hedges are maintained by Island Roads but most are on behalf of Island Roads and by Utility
the responsibility of the property owner or landowner. Island companies carrying out their own works. Sign
Roads issue a letter when protruding hedges, branches etc locations should balance the need to inform
are causing an obstruction, asking for these to be addressed highway users and to ensure footways are
within a specific timeframe. If the work is not completed, Island not blocked or made hazardous. If signs are
Roads can step in and carry out the work and will then charge thought to be dangerous or obstructive, they
the property or landowner accordingly. Island Roads work should be reported.
with the Council, Country Landowners Association, National
Farmers Union and local media on a campaign to remind Report to: Island Roads
landowners of their responsibilities. Some hedges, shrubs and Online: fms.islandroads.com
trees on council-owned land (e.g. parks) are the responsibility Email: [email protected]
of the Isle of Wight Council. Phone: 01983 822440

Hedges maintained by Island Roads are cut between
November and January (outside of the nesting season).

Report to: Island Roads
Online: fms.islandroads.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01983 822440

6

Broken or Damaged Café Tables, Chairs & Skips, Scaffolding &
Pavement Surfaces Patio Heaters Hoarding

Cracked paving slabs, broken- When placed outside catering Scaffolding, builders’ skips and temporary
up tarmac or any other surface establishments on wide hoardings all require a permit if they are
problem can cause a trip hazard. pavements or squares, furniture to be placed on the highway. This is a
Island Roads are currently can obstruct passage or cause a requirement of the Highways Act 1980. If
carrying out a programme of hazard, especially to people with works cause a hazard to pedestrians and
footway (pavement) resurfacing sight impairment, wheelchair mobile scooter users, please report.
across the Island. Some of and pushchair users. Any items
this work has, however, been placed on the pavement should Report to: Island Roads
subject to delays in order be licensed by the Isle of Wight Online: fms.islandroads.com
to accommodate work by Council. Email: [email protected]
WightFibre as they roll out Phone: 01983 822440
Superfast Broadband across the Report to: Isle of Wight Council
Island. It makes sense to wait Email: [email protected] Advertising Boards
for these works to be completed Call: 01983 821000
rather than digging up newly- Swing signs, A-frames, sandwich
laid surfacing. Footways are boards etc can block the pavement and
inspected and maintained all cause a trip hazard especially for the
year round, and any necessary blind or partially sighted, wheelchair
repairs completed. Utilities that and pushchair users. Businesses pay
carry out works on pavements a fee to the Isle of Wight Council, on
are required to reinstate the condition that the boards do not block
surface to the required standard the pavements.
after works.
Report to: Isle of Wight Council
Report to: Island Roads Email: [email protected]
Online: fms.islandroads.com Call: 01983 821000
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01983 822440

7

Installation of Tactile
Surfaces

Bumpy surfaces are designed to
warn those with sight impairment
that they are on the edge of a
road crossing. Lack of tactile
surfaces can present a challenge
and hazard for those with sight
impairments.

Island Roads and the Isle of
Wight Council have been working
in partnership to carry out a
programme to install accessible
pavements with tactile surfaces
across the Island. Any new
requests have to be agreed by the
Isle of Wight Council.

Report to: Island Roads
Online: fms.islandroads.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01983 822440

8

Street Signage, Lamp Posts & Utility, Manhole & Gully Covers
Light Columns
Covers can become broken, lifted, loose or missing
Reflectivity of signs is crucial to help prevent on pavements or roads, which can be potentially
accidents involving pedestrians on road life threatening. Utilities that carry out works on
crossings and junctions. Island Roads conduct pavements are required to reinstate the surface to
an annual test of reflectivity of signs as part the required standard after works.
of their inspections process, and they have a
cleaning schedule. Since 2013, Island Roads Island Roads carry out a maintenance programme
have been working to enhance or replace all and inspections all year round. Any defects to
the 12,068 streetlights across the Island, to ironworks, such as manhole and gully covers,
make the lighting brighter and require less are rectified where these are identified. Utility
maintenance. The lights have been replaced companies are responsible for their own apparatus.
on a like-for-like basis with energy-efficient
LED lamps that reduce light pollution, are more Report to: Island Roads
reliable and efficient. Online: fms.islandroads.com
Email: [email protected]
Report to: Island Roads Phone: 01983 822440
Online: fms.islandroads.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01983 822440

9

Dropped Kerbs Siting of Planters on Siting of Street Furniture
Pavements (Litter Bins, Benches,
Dropped kerbs provide safer road Bollards)
crossings, by removing the risk of trips Planters, pots or other decorative
and falls. It’s easier for wheelchairs items are sometimes placed on Benches are particularly important for
and scooters to cross roads and the pavement. This can restrict those with mobility issues. Bins and
for vehicle access onto driveways. access and present a challenge bollards need to be sited in appropriate
Vehicles driving across the pavement and hazard for those with a sight and useful locations. Where poorly sited,
need to do so slowly and safely. impairment or mobility issue. they cause a hazard or obstruction to
pavement users, especially those with
If a dropped kerb already exists, Island Roads and the Isle of visual impairment.
Island Roads is responsible for its Wight Council work to ensure the
maintenance. Requests for new highways network is safe and Island Roads is responsible for existing
dropped kerbs can be made, but accessible to all users. Island street furniture on the public highway,
Island Roads have to submit these Roads approach property owners including its maintenance. A small
requests, as part of the Highways directly for people to take action number of other benches are the
Safety & Improvement Register, to themselves, in the first instance, responsibility of town and parish councils
the Isle of Wight Council, who will but anything considered a hazard or individuals, where they are on private
then decide which requests will be can be removed, if owners refuse or publicly owned land. Requests for new
implemented. to comply. items of street furniture can be made,
but Island Roads have to submit these
Report to: Island Roads Report to: Island Roads requests, as part of the Highways Safety
Online: fms.islandroads.com Online: fms.islandroads.com & Improvement Register, to the Isle of
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Wight Council who will then decide which
Phone: 01983 822440 Phone: 01983 822440 requests will be implemented.

Report to: Island Roads
Online: fms.islandroads.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01983 822440

10

About Age Friendly Island

Age Friendly Island aims to create a long-term cultural
shift in attitudes towards ageing. We work with Island
organisations and members of the public to co-produce
projects to support and enable older people to age
actively.

Our work is driven by a steering group of Island
organisations from the public, private and voluntary
sector dedicated to delivering projects that endeavour to
influence strategy and policy.

The voices of older people are at the heart of our work
and have determined the focus through public forums
and steering groups. We are always looking for new
members. Please contact us to get involved.

Email: [email protected]
Call: 01983 525282

Age Friendly Island is funded by the National Lottery
Community Fund.