A resident with mobility issues says he’s been left “fed up” and fearing for his safety due to a crumbling pavement outside his County Durham home in Ushaw Moor.
The 71-year-old, who relies on oxygen and a walking stick, claims the damaged path on Laburnum Court, Ushaw Moor, has become a daily hazard - not just for him, but for his neighbours too.
Now, after being contacted by The Northern Echo, the housing group responsible for maintaining the pavement has promised to carry out the necessary repair work.
The condition of the path has been subjected to wear and tear over the years and damage caused from vehicles driving onto the pavement.
The resident, who did not wish to be named, said he struggles to get around the area, due to being disabled and the poor conditions of the pavement.
"It's just all breaking up," the 71-year-old said.
"It's a trip hazard when I'm carrying oxygen and a walking stick. It's become dangerous and I'm just fed up."
The resident added that he has expressed his concerns about this issue to the council, local housing companies, and water companies in the area numerous times.
He said repair work had taken place to fix problems in the area in 2020, but "nothing has been done" about the condition since.
The resident said that the issue is not solely an issue affecting him, but also other neighbours in the area - one of whom "split her head open" due to the road's condition.
He said: "It's not just me, but other neighbours as well that are upset about it. We all keep tripping over the holes in the road, and I'm left gasping for breath because I need oxygen.
"My next door neighbour fell over last year and split her head open. If I just walk for five minutes around the area, I'm either spinning because I can't breath or I trip over."
"The pavement wants ripping up and re-tarmacked," he added.
"In the winter it gets a lot of water underneath, it freezes and expands so when the spring comes along it causes cracks.
"I've spent a lot of money on this place to do it up nice but it seems a waste of money now, because I don't even want to be here anymore."
In one area of the path, there is a container taking up space, which the resident said looks like it is "sinking into the floor".
Believe Housing, who maintains the area, has reached out to the resident and arranged to send a contractor to carry out repairs to the pavement.
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A spokesperson said: “We are grateful to the customer for raising their concerns about the paving at Laburnum Court and have spoken with them directly to understand the issue.
"After assessing the area and taking their individual circumstances into account, we will be carrying out works to resolve the issue.
"A contractor will be appointed to complete the repairs, and we will keep the customer updated on the timescales.”
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