A BUSTED paving stone which is ‘hazardous’ and presents a “risk of injury” to pedestrians falls squarely on the shoulders of the council for repair, according to a concerned resident.

Simon Woolf, of Beaconsfield, said Buckinghamshire Council has a “duty” to repair and make safe a paving slab on Windsor End, near the ‘Four Ends Roundabout’, broken and made crooked by a tree root.

He is frustrated by an online complaints system he branded a “faceless bureaucracy” – and urged the council to “engage in the process” of repair as “members of the public are now at risk”.

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The stone, which is uneven and has a crumbling corner, is located near a decorative planter by the entrance to The Royal Saracens Head pub, and has been an issue for several months, according to Mr Woolf.

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Mr Woolf claims the slab was installed by South Buckinghamshire District Council (SBDC) in the 1990s.

He said he and other residents have lodged “frequent” complaints via FixMyStreet, only to receive a “faceless response from Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB), advising it is not highways land and the landowner has been informed”.

Although the problem falls within Common Land in the old town, Mr Woolf insists a failure to repair the walkway falls on Buckinghamshire Council.

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“Various residents reported to the council that a paving slab has been damaged by a tree root rendering it a hazard to pedestrians,” said Mr Woolf.

“I happen to know of the scheme of arrangement on this particular land and firmly believe that Buckinghamshire Council, as managers of the land, have a duty of care to make the pavement safe and repair it.

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“The problem is one can only report pavement issues to TfB who rigidly apply the terms of a partnership agreement made between the former Buckinghamshire County Council and contractor Ringway Jacobs.

“Try as one might, the unitary council will not repair the pavement when they have the means to do so very easily and there is no resolution in sight.

“The council is not willing to engage in the process which I and other residents find so frustrating and members of the public are now at risk of injury.

“I think this dispute now needs to be brought out into the public domain because the council’s stance is wrong and unhelpful.

“Instead this is denied simply because one cannot talk to a faceless bureaucracy.”

Transport for Buckinghamshire and Buckinghamshire Council have been approached for comment.