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24 June 2008

Help the Aged reveals councils are holding back £millions for pavement falls payouts

New report for National Falls Awareness Day (24 June 2008) provides a snapshot of the litigation fear factor haunting local authorities   

A new report by Help the Aged to mark National Falls Awareness Day reveals local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland[1] are holding back millions of pounds to cover the potential cost of personal injury claims when people fall on pavements. This is at a time when many councils also say they face funding shortfalls to keep public walkways safe.

In 2007 the 66 councils who responded to the Charity’s questionnaires set aside a total of £16.3 million, an average of £250,000 each[2], to cover the potential legal costs when people fall on their pavements. The report reveals a fear factor over high legal costs and compensation payouts and that means, in some cases, councils are holding back more to cover these possible expenses than they are spending on emergency pavement repairs.   

As new figures show that more than 2,300 older people fall on broken pavements every day[3] and nearly 80,000 of those who have fallen each year are then afraid to leave the house[4], the Charity believes some of the funds councils hold in legal and compensation cost reserves could be better spent on making pavements safer.   

The Falling Short investigation is part of the Charity’s campaign to improve the nation’s paving for the safety of older people. It shows that, among the councils that responded, while spending on emergency pavement repairs has increased from £29.7 million in 2005 to £31.5 million in 2007[5], inflation has wiped out the value of these increases in real terms.   

The report also shows, of the 43 councils who answered the question ‘Does your council face funding shortfalls in its work to adequately maintain kerbs, pavements and public walkways?’, 84 per cent (38 councils) answered ‘Yes’.

The fourth Help the Aged National Falls Awareness Day, supported by Stannah Stairlifts, takes place on the 24th June 2008, with over 400 events planned across the UK. The overall aim for the day is to raise awareness among older people, their friends and families, health professionals and policy makers, of the risk of falling as we age, the conditions that increase the chance of a fall and the practical changes that can reduce the risk.   

Pamela Holmes, Head of Healthy Ageing at Help the Aged, said: “This investigation suggests that councils are caught in a vicious circle. On the one hand they are required to sit on large sums of money to cover legal fees and compensation and on the other they are cash-strapped when it comes to repairing pavements that may cause falls in the first place. It is vital that councils invest more money in keeping public walkways safe, as falls are a leading cause of death for over 75s. We also understand that older people are less likely than other age groups to seek compensation when they fall, even though suffering a fall can shatter their physical and mental well-being.” 

She continues, “Councils are responsible for maintaining and repairing millions of miles of public walkways, and this report shows that their finances are under pressure. However, we would like to see all councils responding quickly to fix pavements reported as dangerous and to investigate how they might better spend their reserve litigation funds.”  

The Charity is encouraging members of the public to send pavement reporting postcards to local authorities to highlight dangerous pavements in their areas on National Falls Awareness Day, 24th June 2008. Since the campaign started in 2007, the Charity has lobbied 90 councils on pavement repairs with many taking positive steps to improve their pavements as a result.

Notes to Editor

1. Supporters of National Falls Awareness Day who would like to raise funds to help the Charity carry out its vital work to help older people can perform an exhilarating sponsored skydive. Please contact the Help the Aged Events Team on 020 7239 1922 or visit www.helptheaged.org.uk/events

2. Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation and neglect. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The charity delivers a range of services including information and advice, home support and help in difficult times that are supported by its fundraising activities and paid for services. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.

3. Stannah Stairlifts is a British, family run business that has been making stairlifts since 1975. Today it is the world’s leading stairlift manufacturer, producing stairlifts for all styles of stairs be they straight, curved or even outdoor. The range and colour of upholstery available ensure that Stannah Stairlifts can successfully blend with the décor of any home. All Stannah Stairlifts are independently tested and approved to the full BS5776 (1996) accreditation. This is the British Standard to which all reputable stairlift manufacturers must comply. In addition, Stannah Stairlifts all come with a comprehensive 12 month parts and labour guarantee, as well as one complimentary service visit. As part of Stannah’s thorough after sales service, their customer service staff are on hand 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, all working from the nationwide network of service branches that make Stannah a truly national business with the local touch. For more information please visit www.stannahstairlifts.co.uk

[1] Falling Short, The state of our pavements: an investigation for the National Falls Awareness Day campaign, Help the Aged 2008. Almost a hundred larger county, unitary, borough and city councils were targeted in order to cover as much of England, Wales and Scotland as time and resources allowed. Northern Ireland roads and walkways are not dealt with on a local government level, but are the responsibility of The Roads Service, a central executive agency within the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. The Roads Service did not have repair cost data that is comparable to that available from many English, Welsh and Scottish councils.

[2] Sixty six councils were able to respond to some or all of the Charity’s questions concerning the amount of money spent and reserved for legal and compensation costs relating to falls on public walkways

[3] Falling Short, Help the Aged 2008

[4] Spotlight 2008, Help the Aged

[5] Falling Short, Help the Aged 2008