A Wirral woman who uses a wheelchair says she has been left feeling "like a prisoner" because of a new footpath near her home, after her chair repeatedly got stuck in the path's surface and she needed help from passers-by to free it.
Soraya Sperring, 59, travels across Link View playing fields in Leasowe numerous times a day. The new gritstone surface path, which connects Leasowe Road and Ross Avenue, was laid by Wirral Council earlier this year.
Wheels getting stuck in loose material
Soraya says the wheels of her chair keep getting stuck in the loose, sand-like material, forcing her to seek help from strangers. She told the ECHO: "It makes me feel like a prisoner. I'm petrified. If there isn't a lot of people out when I get stuck, I am totally stranded."
The new path was initially laid alongside a tarmac path, which Soraya is able to use. However, Wirral Council has confirmed it is now looking to remove the tarmac path, leaving just the gritstone track.
Concerns over access to shops and GP
Soraya added: "I'm now going to have no way to access the shop up the road or the GP. I would have to go right round the estate. The council has not taken into account all members of the public. I think they've made a really bad mistake. I just don't understand why they've done it. They should have just laid a full concrete path."
Making the surface even more challenging to cross, Soraya says grass has now started to grow through the gritstone path. The material also gets stuck in her wheelchair's tyre treads and is carried into her home, meaning her carers have to clean the floors as she is unable to do so herself.
Council says path is 'performing as intended'
Responding to the concerns, a Wirral Council spokesperson told the ECHO: "The original path at Links View was narrow and in poor condition, so the improvements were made to provide a wider shared-use route for pedestrians and cyclists. The new gritstone surface was initially soft, with the long periods of hot and dry weather over the summer delaying it settling properly. We kept part of the old tarmac path open during this time to allow people to continue using it.
"We've since inspected the path and we're satisfied that the surface has now firmed up and meets the required specification. We're now looking at removing the remaining section of old tarmac as originally planned. We have met with users of the path on site and listened to the concerns they raised about the surface and how it was performing. Their comments were considered alongside our inspections of the route.
"We appreciate the concerns raised and understand that some material may still be picked up on wheelchair wheels. Having monitored the path and inspected it since installation, we're satisfied that the surface has now settled and is performing as intended."
