Paul Heathcote and the dangerous pavement

A CIVIL WAR reenactment enthusiast says he is suing the Town Hall after a fall caused by a wonky paving slab has forced him to join the cavalry.

Paul Heathcote, who lives in Tollington, said he sustained such serious facial injuries that he no longer feels comfortable “charging across the field” when he takes part in the charity reenactment shows.

He has been performing since 1977, tackling conflicts including battles from the First World War and the American Civil War.

Since moving to Islington a decade ago, he now travels to Somerset once a year to continue pursuing his passion, performing at caravan sites across the south-west.

Mr Heathcote had been walking along Popham Road with his dog Fallon when a slab “two inches off the ground” caused him to trip, breaking his glasses and leaving him with an injured cheekbone and eye socket.

“As you can see from the photo, it looks like I went three rounds with Mike Tyson,” he said. “The surface of the Moon would be safer to walk on than the streets of Islington. I’m 6’4’’, I’m very tall. I used to be 6’6’’.

“If I trip and fall it’s a long way to go. I never used to have to look down at the floor whilst walking but now I do.”

The 68-year-old told the Tribune he had contacted the council to inform them of the slab, but had received “not a word in response”.

“When I tried to raise it with the council, I felt like I was talking to a brick wall… Islington Council, get into gear, get your head out of neutral, and do some repairs,” he said.

Mr Heathcote has subsequently drafted in lawyers in order to help him win some financial compensation in court. He suffers from heart problems and was born with a brain condition, and is currently training his dog Fallon to help remind him to take his medication.

He hopes that if he wins his case against the council he can spend the money to continue Fallon’s training to become a fully functional assistance dog.

Islington Council said it could not comment on the case while legal proceedings were ongoing but environment chief Councillor Rowena Champion said: “We can confirm that a paving slab on Popham Street has now been repaired.

“We would encourage any resident who spots broken or uneven paving to report it via our website, or the Love Clean Streets app, so we are aware of the issue and can remedy it.”