Block paving that was creating a trip hazard in Swadlincote High Street is now being repaired – just a day after the Burton Mail exposed the problem.
Derbyshire County Council is now on the scene after it was reported that tree roots have been lifting the paving causing an elderly woman to trip and narrowly avoid falling on the raised blocks.
The paving surrounding four trees at the Morrisons' end of the busy street have already risen about a quarter of an inch from the ground in some parts of the street.
South Derbyshire District Council later told the Burton Mail that its tree officer was investigating, with future plans to replace some of the trees.
Now, employees from the county council have been out replacing the paving blocks which have been damaged or displaced by the tree roots.
It comes after one Swadlincote shopkeeper spoke to the Burton Mail after witnessing the elderly woman trip and almost fall.
The trader, who did not want to be named, has said that because more events are now taking place further down High Street, more needs to be done to deal with the dangerous paving.
The district council said the trees had been planted many years ago and an order has been placed for small improvement works to take place.
The authority will also look into removing some of the trees where they have lifted the paving stones and replace them with more suitable species.
A spokesman for Derbyshire County Council said: “We have begun work to replace those paving blocks which have been damaged or displaced by tree roots in High Street and are carrying out inspections to assess the extent of the problem in the area. We will continue to monitor the issue once the work is complete. However, we won’t know the cost of the repairs until we have completed our full assessment of the situation and determined what work needs to take place.”
