A freedom of information (FOI) request has revealed that over the last five years, Labour-run Ealing Council has paid out £241,146 in compensation for pedestrian injury claims which include tripping on pavements which have not been maintained.
The most common cause of pedestrian accident claims since 2020 was for uneven pavements and footways with 98 being reported followed by trips and falls, with 44 claims submitted. Manhole/drain accidents saw 12 claims, followed by 5 claims for road defects and 2 claims for step defects.
The FOI request made by Accident Claims Advice found £241,146 was paid out consisting of 25 claims in 2020 costing £90,986, 35 claims in 2021 costing £89,000 and 52 claims in 2022 costing £61,160. In 2023 and 2024 there were no payouts.
JF Law solicitor Lucy Parker said: “Pedestrian accidents can result in severe injuries, such as sprains, head trauma, and even broken bones, which means it’s essential that highways and footpaths are properly maintained.”
Ms Parker added: “These accidents are often caused by preventable factors, such as poorly maintained roads and pavements or inadequate signage and lighting. It is vital that councils are held accountable for their negligence in these cases. Victims of these accidents may face extensive medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and loss of income.”
An Ealing Council spokesperson said: “The cost of claims paid out by the council for pedestrian accidents has significantly reduced year on year from 2020-2024, resulting in £0 payouts in 2023 and 2024. The safety of residents and visitors to our borough is our top priority and we always investigate the reason behind a claim, to minimise the risk of it happening again.”
They added: “We also continually invest in our roads and pavements. All council-maintained roads and pavements in Ealing are regularly inspected – major roads monthly and residential roads either every three or six months.
“Defects such as potholes or uneven pavements are noted during these inspections, and fixing them is prioritised in line with the level of danger.
“An independent highway inspector also carries out a full condition survey of all council-maintained pavements and roads every year.
“If residents or visitors to Ealing borough notice anything wrong with the pavements or roads, they can report it via the Love Clean Streets app.”
In 2023, leader of Ealing Liberal Democrats, Councillor Gary Malcolm told EALING.NEWS: “Liberal Democrats say that Ealing Council has a history of many people tripping up on their pavements. Labour only a few years ago changed the rules so that it ignored some types of pavement trip hazards to avoid repairing as many streets.”
Councillor Malcolm added: “Liberal Democrats want to see our streets safe and we want to see more pavements repaired with hardwearing materials so that they are both safe and would last for many years longer than the patchwork of tarmac we commonly see across the borough.”
