THE state of the courtesy crossings in Tavistock has been slammed as a ‘dereliction of duty’, after another pedestrian sustained injuries using one.

Local and borough councillors and members of the public have once again called for something to be done over the deterioration of the cobbled crossings in the town. The concerns then spread to the Tavistock Parish page on Facebook after a woman tripped, fell and was badly injured, on the courtesy crossing on Bedford Square by Plymouth Road.

The eye-witness said: ‘Yet another person has fallen on the cobbles outside the taxi rank smashing her face on the floor and gone to hospital. When is something going to be done about this, it’s getting a joke now.’

Since 2015, there have been eight publications in the Times relating to the state of the crossings. The most recent was in May when leader of West Devon Borough Council and deputy mayor of Tavistock Cllr Philip Sanders brought his concerns over the crossings to the attention of members of Tavistock Town Council, stating that the one on Plymouth Road at Bedford Square was ‘a serious trip hazard’ and ‘dangerous’.

West Devon Borough Council Deputy Mayor and Tavistock town councillor Cllr Jeff Moody said: ‘I am very angry that in spite of Devon County Council being constantly reminded of the danger to unsuspecting pedestrians, that the cobbles have continued to claim victims for almost 18 months.

‘I understand that one Tavistock business owner was so badly injured last year that she was forced to close her business which resulted in loss of earnings for her and her staff.

‘Devon County Council have known about the issue and I’m absolutely appalled that nothing has been done except for temporary tarmac patching.

‘We’ve been constantly told that the cobbles are regularly inspected and that DCC are looking in to it and that in the end “appropriate action will be taken if they deteriorate further”.

‘I now call on Devon County Council to finally address the cobbles as a matter of urgency and in the interest of public safety. Any failure to repair the dangerous cobbles can only be viewed as a dereliction of duty.’

Mayor of West Devon Borough Council and Tavistock town Cllr John Sheldon said: ‘Unfortunately the current cobbles that make up crossing points in the Bedford Square area are failing.

‘If they are to be replaced then the replacement needs to be level to walk on and capable of withstanding the weight of the traffic.

‘I always walk in the tarmac area either side of these crossing points and avoid the cobbles.

‘I would urge Devon County Council, as the highway authority, to come up with a solution before the report of yet another fall.’

A spokesman for Devon County Council said the paved areas, more commonly used in traffic-free pedestrian areas, were put in Bedford Square as features to visually break up the road surface, with the shared agreement from local councils some 20 to 30 years ago.

He said: ‘This particular paved area, where there’s now a depression in the road after years of vehicle use, isn’t a crossing place. We won’t know the extent of the repairs needed until we look into it but we will be rebuilding them later in the year.

‘Discussions need to be had first with the local councils about funding for the ongoing maintenance of these paved areas. 

‘We’re sorry to hear about the lady who fell at a different location on the square and hope that she makes a speedy recovery.’