Gabriella Mann

POTHOLES are causing misery across the borough as slips and falls leave people with long-lasting injuries, as one pensioner described falling five times.

While Islington doesn’t keep a record of how many people reported slipping or tripping on its roads and pavements, it does keep a record of insurance claims made against the council by pedestrians.

According to a recent Freedom of Information (FoI) request, in the five years between 2018 and 2022, Islington received 302 insurance claims for trips and falls and paid out just under £350,000 in compensation and legal fees.

Gabriella Mann, 81, known as Gabby, said she first fell while walking in Clissold Park around seven years ago, but since then has fallen five times on her own road in Highbury Grange, the worst of which happened two years ago when she almost broke her nose and damaged her forehead. She said she has seen around 20 other people fall or trip on uneven pavements in Highbury Grange, and questioned how many more may have fallen.

“Loads of people have had falls,” she said. “But the worst one was when I hit my nose. It was a woman that was walking by with a pram and two little children holding on to the pram and of course I was coming out of the doctor’s which is the other side of the road. And I sort of moved back – the tree was there – as the woman went past. I put my foot out and of course I went flying.”

Ms Mann, who is the committee chairman of the tenants’ association at Bowen Court on the Taverner and Peckett Square estate, added: “I didn’t like going out. No, once the first fall happened that was me gone. I didn’t want to go out. I used to take a couple of friends with me if I was going anywhere.”

The retired publican and supermarket worker said since her street was relaid with large anti-trip paving stones in 2022, she has not fallen, but warned Highbury Park was another danger spot that both she and other elderly residents on her estate worried about.

Councillor Caroline Russell, who has campaigned on improving pavement safety, said: “It shouldn’t need someone to trip and fall for the council to ensure our pavements are well-maintained so older people can get around their local streets safely.”

Last month the government announced it is spending £235million fixing the capital’s potholes over the next 11 years. Islington will receive £3.5million.

An Islington Council spokesperson said their roads were “very heavily used” and “some issues are inevitable”.

She added they have a “regular proactive maintenance programme for roads and pavements” meaning the “vast majority” of potholes are repaired quickly.

She added: “If you spot a problem with a road or pavement, please report it online or by calling 020 7527 2000 so we can deal with it as soon as possible.”