On Friday, July 2 a fifth person fell on one of the pavements in the town in the last six months. This time it was just outside the bread shop in the High Street. Luckily there were no broken bones but there was a lot of blood from a cut lip along with a bruised head. An ambulance was called but unfortunately they were unable to come. As usual in these cases, passers by were wonderful and eager to help as did the shop staff. The woman was safely taken home but really should have been looked at by a paramedic. It was suggested that they phone Rye Medical Centre and ask for a nurse to come to the home to make sure there was no concussion.
Four friends of this reporter have had falls. One opposite the jewellery shop, Simon Milne Ltd, on the High Street. She was looked after by the owner and had to wait five hours for an ambulance. She had three breaks in her right shoulder and several operations. Two friends fell in Cinque Ports street on the pavement near the charity shops. Again no bones broken but a lot of bruises. After falling on the pavement in Mermaid Street, which is very narrow and has greenery growing along some of the houses, another person needed 10 stitches in the leg.
How long does Rye have to put up with these uneven pavements, loose slabs and overhanging vegetation? Does it have to be a fatal accident, or a person falling into the path of a car before something is done? It is clear that Rye Town Council has little power over the streets and pavements. However, it is their town to look after and it would be not beyond the councillors' remit to discuss a strategy and contact the relevant department, East Sussex County Council (ESCC), to do something about the worsening condition of most pavements in the town, with overlapping and loose stones.
The pictures show just part of the problem, there are loose slabs too. It might be useful to walk around the town. And what was so special about West Street which has now lovely new slabs to walk over, yet it was not as bad as Mermaid street?
ESCC, surely must realize that it might be cheaper to mend where necessary than spend when sued.
