Blame Drain

My letter to the KM in response to KCC winning the £5k appeal against compensation claimed when the woman tripped over a drain protruding 15mm above the pavement:

Dear Editor,

While the merits of claiming compensation for injury caused by pavement hazards are debatable, it is clear that Kent County Council have acted to protect themselves against further claims for their continued failure to keep our pavements in a reasonable state of repair.

Just like their failure to help pedestrians during last winter's snow, yet again we see them acting against the interests of people who choose or need to walk rather than drive. We also know that it is older people and disabled people who are more reliant on walking and public transport that most, so yet again they are disadvantaged by KCC.

Kent County Council seems to prefer to take 81 year old women to court rather than get on with its duty to provide safe pavements.

--
Stuart Jeffery
Maidstone Green Party