Dug-up pavements a pain

Welch said that residents in the Craighall Park area had become accustomed to having their pavements “dug up” and that generally, the damage would be repaired.

“However, sometime last year a bunch of unknown clowns dug holes all over the place and in particular along Rutland Avenue, outside St.Teresa’s School,” claimed Welch.

“They did not seem to put anything in or take anything out, just dug a trench and sort of closed it up. The result is a mess which is almost impossible to walk along.”

One of his major concerns was that people were then forced to walk on the road, even mothers with prams.

Ward 90 councillor Gordon Mackay said that suburban areas should naturally have sidewalks that people can walk on.

“It is not only residents who use the sidewalks as most of the employees in the area usually walk to work – even those getting off public transport,” said Mackay.

“Not having walkable sidewalks creates a hazardous environment with pedestrians being forced to walk on the street.”

Mackay said that the Johannesburg Roads Agency had a responsibility to ensure that pedestrians could walk safely on pavements.

When approached for comment, agency spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers said the agency was apologetic about the delay in repairing damaged sidewalks.

“Roads agency teams are currently busy with the reinstatement of the pavements. It is expected that the work will be completed by tomorrow, 12 February, at the end of business,” said Peters-Scheepers.