There are over 7 million square metres (8 million square yards)
of pavements in West Sussex.
We aim to make sure that they are properly maintained and safe
to use for everyone, including those with mobility impairments such
as poor eyesight or physical disabilities, and for those with
wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Although, pavements are designed and built to last as long as
possible, they are subject to heavy wear and tear over time,
especially as a result of bad weather.
Pavements are also damaged when vehicles are parked on them and
when they are dug up by electricity, gas, water or cable
companies.
What the County Council does
- We invite contractors to submit competitive tenders every year
to maintain the pavements.
- We provide special paving slabs with patterned surfaces
(tactile paving) at pedestrian crossings to help guide the visually
impaired.
Standards of service
- All pavements are inspected by walking them at least once a
year.
- Priority is given to pavements in most urgent need of repair
and which have the heaviest use.
- We aim to make pot holes or cracks in dangerous situations safe
by the end of the working day following notification. Currently,
over 90% of dangerous faults are made safe by this deadline.
However, we aim to repair pavements before they reach this
condition because it is much cheaper in the long run.
- We carry out minor repairs throughout the year as and when they
come to our attention.
How you can help us
- Let us know about damage to the pavements which may result in
trips or falls.
- Do not park on pavements - almost 20% of repairs are as a
result of this.
- Let us know if you have any problems with the standard of our
contractors' work.
- Complete a questionnaire, which we ask you to complete when we
have carried out work outside your house, as this enables us to
monitor the quality of the work done.
A full programme of maintenance is drawn up every year in
consultation with district, borough, and parish councils, and the
public, in addition to surveys by our inspectors.
We are also responsible for public rights of way (public
footpaths and bridleways), which are usually
unsurfaced. Find out about how we
maintain the county's public rights of way.
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Frequently asked questions
Why do you sometimes only repair the pavement on one side of the
road?
Usually, the reason is that the other side is less urgent than
work requiring attention elsewhere. We try to get back to it as
soon as we can.
Why do you sometimes resurface pavements when there
seems to be little wrong with them?
It can be 5 times cheaper to resurface worn pavements before
they break up rather than completely replacing them later.
Why don't you use paving slabs instead of
asphalt?
We do use paving slabs in conservation areas. We would like to
use them more often, but they are very expensive. This would mean
that we had less money to spend on more dangerous faults. Just as
importantly, paving slabs are frequently damaged by vehicles
parking on them, making it more likely that pedestrians will trip.
Asphalt is much more resistant and the safety of pedestrians is
very important to us.
How do I report a pavement fault (including paving
stones) and who repairs it?
You can report a fault online or call
us on 01243 642105. We investigate every
report of a defective pavement received and carry out the necessary
repairs within appropriate timescales. If the fault is potentially
dangerous, it will be made safe by the end of the following working
day.
A pavement I use is in poor condition, who do I
contact to ensure it's refurbished?
You can report a fault online or call
us on 01243 642105. We will inspect the
pavement and determine its priority for repair using a systematic
rating system to other requests and works identified through our
inspections.
Who do I contact to suggest a pram or wheelchair
crossing at a road junction?
Please call us on 01243 642105. It will
then be considered along with others requests and prioritised
within existing limited budgets.
Does the County Council sell off broken paving slabs
to the public?
No, we do not hold stocks of paving slabs. We suggest that you
contact your local builders' merchant. If you do not know of anyone
locally, have a look in the Yellow
Pages.
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Theft of paving stones
To report missing paving stones, please contact us online or call 01243
642105.
If you witness the theft, do not hesitate in calling the police
immediately.
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