REFERRING to the article ‘Falling over kerbs due to new layout’ (Standard, February 16), I really cannot believe the statement by Cllr Patrick Coleman during a debate about the number of injuries sustained by tripping over kerbs introduced last year in the Market Place redevelopment.

His quote was “As people get used to the place, you don’t fall over so often. That is what we hope will happen with the Market Place”.

This is the most absurd and ridiculous statement I have heard from an appointed official responsible for the public’s well being for as long as I can remember and even out trumps some of the statements from President Trump himself of late.

It is interesting that the Council consider it alright for people to fall over as long as it is not so often, or so they hope.

Also, the council seems to ignore tourists and visitors to Cirencester who do not have the opportunity to “get used to the place” as Cllr Coleman puts it.

Let me draw attention, and in particular the Council, to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, earlier versions also applicable, which are an Act of Parliament, passed to reduce injuries and fatalities in construction covering the management of health, safety and welfare when carrying out construction projects. 

A designer under the regulations when preparing a design must take into account the general principles of prevention to eliminate, so far as is reasonably practicable, foreseeable risks to health and safety of any person: a) carrying out or liable to be affected by the construction work; b) others maintaining or cleaning the structure; c) or persons using the structure as a workplace, namely the general public as regards the latter category.

I therefore ask where under these regulations, which are a legal requirement, have the designers considered the general principles of prevention to eliminate risks to health and safety of the general public.

Adopting Cllr Coleman’s approach to everyday activities, perhaps we should all bury our heads in the sand and forget any issues to do with public safety and wait for people to ‘get used’ to being affected by injuries and fatalities brought about the negligence of others who are there to protect us, I don't think so.

Come on Cllr Coleman, admit that you have got it wrong and please recognise as the client, the Council’s responsibilities and duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations for the works to the Market Place and get those kerb problems sorted once and for all. 

TONY WOOTLEY
Cirencester