Despite sending 35 emails to Oxfordshire County Council Highways Department about the dangerous state of the pavement in High Street, Witney, replies were merely weak excuses coupled with half-hearted attempts to make improvements to just a few of the defective paving slabs.

Now someone from the Highways department, named Lydia, only replies to my requests with text messages that do not address the problem.

Shortages of cash will not be an excuse if compensation claims follow any injuries. I am badly disabled and tripped on one occasion, only to be saved from falling by my carer, who grabbed my arm.

I also have witnessed on two separate occasions a member of the public trip over the numerous protrusions and luckily regain their balance before hitting the ground.

The council knows about the defects, as some of the defective slabs have been marked with yellow Xs, but instead of making proper repairs, the said slabs have just had silver sand poured around the edges adjoining neighbouring slabs.

This is only a temporary measure that stops the loose slab from wobbling but does not improve the unevenness with its adjoining slabs. As a heavy shower happens, the silver sand would be washed straight back out again.

I counted 25 slabs that were protruding in excess of a few millimetres and a few that were protruding as much as an inch above its neighbours.

A letter to our Prime Minister, whose constituency covers the area, replied with ‘pass it on to Oxfordshire County Council’. Is no-one in public office able to take the bull by the horns and demand making the area safe to walk along? I am sure the local shops and businesses would benefit, as I expect many elderly, frail or disabled folk avoid shopping in that part of Witney.

ADRIAN TAYLOR, Thames Court, Eynsham