Blackpool tripping bill costs council £1.2m

11:09am Wednesday 27th August 2008

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The council in Blackpool has paid out more than a million pound to people who claimed compensation after after tripping on pavements and roads in the resort.

But the £1.2m bill for the 156 claims in the last financial year is half of that in 2006/07 when the council received 291 tripping claims costing £2.1m.

Council bosses said that although compensation claims reduce the cash available for road and pavement improvements the cut in tripping claims is down to increased investment in the highways network in the resort.

Councillor Ian Fowler, cabinet member with responsibility for Streetscene, said: “Spending over £2m on compensation claims meant we had less money to spend on actually improving the roads and pavements.

“We targeted the areas where we’ve received the highest number of claims and invested to ensure they are improved.

“Last year we spent £1.8m improving the highway network.

"Much of this money is revenue raised through car parks and parking tickets.

“We realise that there is much still to do in improving our roads and streets but we have made a good start and we are aiming to reduce the amount of claims even further.”

Back in 2002 the number of claims peaked with the council receiving more than 700 in one year.

Residents can report damaged pavements and pot holes by visiting the council website www.blackpool.gov.uk