NOW with the letter from Mr Houlihan of Roxburgh Park, (The Border Mail, May 22) the Albury Council will be well aware that Albury’s footpaths are neither comfortable nor safe.
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The existing footpaths were laid down at the time when there were few wheelie walkers or electric scooters and wheelchairs.
The worst feature of the existing paths is where footpaths meet the road, principally at street corners. Newer footpaths do not have the step that causes the problems.
However, even newly laid footpaths in Albury show that existing design specifications still do not provide the best surface for mobility aids.
Footpath expansion grooves are wider and closer together than is necessary. Cement ridges 4cm on either side of these expansion grooves have been left in an unfinished state. These factors create an unnecessarily rough ride. Indeed, it indicates that new footpaths are designed to “look good” rather than provide a smooth ride.
Rectification of the footpath problems will take some years.
But the most dangerous footpath problems can be easily reported to council if you have a mobile phone with a camera.
A free app is available that reports problems direct to council. It is the “Snap, Send, Solve” app.
— GORDON OSMOND,
West Albury