Home / Health / Potholes Trap Wheelchair User at Home
Potholes Trap Wheelchair User at Home
3 Jun
Summary
- Wheelchair user feels trapped by pavement potholes in her town.
- Uneven surfaces cause debilitating pain, damaging mobility aids.
- Council reports thousands of footway potholes repaired recently.
Bebe Newton, a 41-year-old resident of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, reports feeling "trapped" in her home due to the prevalence of potholes on local pavements. Newton, who uses a wheelchair following chronic illnesses contracted in 2021, experiences severe pain and extended periods of immobility when encountering uneven surfaces. The constant damage from these hazards has also necessitated the replacement of her electric wheelchair.
Newton advocates for treating pavement potholes with the same urgency as road defects, noting that the "smaller community" affected by footpath issues receives less attention. She suggests that policymakers should experience disability firsthand to better understand the challenges faced. Dr. Amo Raju, a disability ambassador, described councils' repair efforts as "sticking plaster solutions" and emphasized the significant economic and emotional toll on disabled individuals.
Derbyshire County Council stated that between November 2023 and the present, 13,304 footway potholes were reported county-wide, with 11,196 repaired. In the Erewash area specifically, 597 reports led to 489 repairs during the same period. The council is investing over £3 million this financial year in footway resurfacing to improve footpath conditions throughout the county.
