Yahoo News Nan fears leaving her home because of the state of the pavements
A great-nan is finding it "almost impossible" to get to the shops in her wheelchair because of the "poor state of repair" of pavements in her area.
Sybil Turner, 94, who has five grandkids and five great-grandkids, is a long-time resident of Childwall. A few years ago, due to mobility problems, she started using an electric wheelchair.
For Sybil, getting out and about to do the things most of us take for granted has become a daily struggle. Speaking to the ECHO, she said: "The whole place is impossible for anyone in a wheelchair. The pavements are so uneven it's ridiculous. For 50 odd years we've been saying how important it is to look after disabled people. But it's frightening when you're in a wheelchair by yourself."
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The council has confirmed to the ECHO a team will now be looking into the concerns expressed by Sybil.
According to Sybil, getting from Woolton Road to the shops on Allerton Road in her wheelchair is particularly challenging. She said: "Electric wheelchairs aren't made to mount kerbs. So when I come to a high kerb I have to stop and get out of the chair.
"Then, when I manage to get onto a pavement, they are in such a poor state of repair it's dangerous. The tree roots are so high they nearly tip me over."
Four years ago, Sybil suffered an accident while she was out on her mobility scooter near her home. She said: "I've been tipped out by tree roots. I ended up breaking my pelvis. I was using a three-wheeled scooter at the time and the front wheel went over. I ended up in the road and a couple of ladies stopped to help me."
After the accident, Sybil began using an electric wheelchair, but things haven't become any easier for her to get around.
She is particularly frustrated with what she claims is a lack of safe crossing places for wheelchair users. She said: "The kerbs are so high and nowhere is it safe to cross unless there's a ramp. And there are no ramps to cross Queens Drive except at traffic lights. I have to go to Fiveways, where pavements are so bad with tree roots. And there I have to go back to the other side of the road. It's almost impossible."
She added: "If I go straight out and turn left onto Queens Drive, I can get down reasonably well to Menlove Avenue, but when I get there, I just can't cross it."
Unwilling to risk her safety, she has resorted to paying for taxi cabs to get to the shops on Allerton Road. According to Sybil, a round trip from her home to Allerton Road in a black cab costs £20.
She has taken up the issue with the council but is frustrated at the lack of progress made. She said: "Some councillors came over to talk to me around 18 months ago. They were delightful and wanted to help, but said it would be another four years before they could take action because of long-term planning restrictions."
Liverpool City Council has been approached for comment. A council representative told the ECHO their highways team will make an inspection in the area in response to Sybil's concerns.
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