Elderly man speaks out after fall (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)
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Ron Pettie speaks out after fall in St Albans city centre
8:50am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in News
By Zoe Forsey, Senior Reporter
Mr Pettie was left with an injured leg and covered in bruises
An elderly man was left with an injured leg and covered in bruises when he tripped on an uneven pavement in St Albans city centre.
Ron Pettie, who lives in Lye Lane, Bricket Wood, had been walking along the cut-through between St Peters Street and The Alban Arena on January 18 when he tripped on an uneven paving stone.
The 85-year-old said: "I didn’t see it and I put my foot on it. It was about an inch below the level of the pavement.
"I couldn’t get up. My daughter couldn’t lift me so two men had to get me up.
"I really damaged my leg and my hands are bruised. I’m in a pretty bad way. I can’t walk properly.
"I couldn’t get in and out of the car.
"I’m a tough bloke. I just didn’t expect it."
Mr Pettie’s daughter complained to Hertfordshire County Council, who look after roads and pavements in the area, but later discovered that the area outside Ladbrokes is owned by St Albans District Council.
Simon Rowberry, interim head of planning and building control at the district council, said: "We are sorry to hear of Mr Pettie’s fall. We are looking into this matter and have contacted his daughter to express our concern.
"We own the path located alongside Ladbrokes that leads to the Alban Arena.
"This area is inspected each month and, when needed, we arrange for any repair work to take place."
However Mr Pettie says the pathway has not been corrected despite his daughter’s complaint.
He said: "I’ve been back to the road about four times now and nothing has changed.
"This is about the safety of the population.
"I think this deserves some sort of compensation.
"A lot of people my age would have been a lot worse than me."
