'Dangerous': Residents frustrated with unfixed footpaths

Roading issues in Christchurch's east are in the spotlight again, with one resident waiting for almost a year to have an uneven footpath fixed.

Kathryn Barker, of Wainoni, has been trying to get a footpath with tree roots growing underneath it fixed since September last year.

The 75-year-old said she has to use a torch when walking home in the evenings and fears she will fall on the uneven surface.

“I’m nearly 76 and it’s dangerous, I could easily trip and I don’t want to break a hip or anything,” she said.

In September, Barker sent an email to Christchurch City Council, raising concerns about the footpath, and said a staff member came out to have a look.

"I watched him, he sat in his van and was looking down the street then he hopped out ... and spray-canned it and that’s about it, then he hopped back in."

About a month ago Barker was on the phone to a city council staff member while doing her rates rebate and asked them to look up the working order in the computer system.

Seeing that no further action was taken, the staff member put a notice on it to have it looked at again but still nothing has been done.

"It just really annoys me, you pay your rates and they don’t do anything about it and I’d say [it’s] because we’re on the wrong side of town."

City council staff were unable to respond to questions before Pegasus Post's deadline.

Pannell Discounter convenience store owner Dave Brown said he’s noticed the uneven footpath and has called the city council about it "at least a couple of times".

“It seems to be a big problem all the way down Pannell Ave,” he said.

“Council have been out numerous times and have put their red paint over the humps and bumps, but nothing has been done about it.”

He said one of his employees lives in the area and has complained about it several times.

“I’ve had a couple of people trip over because it’s so uneven. It’s not an inconvenience for the shop, but I gather it is for the people that have to walk down Pannell Ave.”

Linwood Ward councillor Yani Johanson has brought up issues with the city council not prioritising roading in the east previously, something Barker agrees with.

Barker said the footpath has been an issue for some years now, but as she’s getting older it was more difficult for her to cross.

She said she remembers when the trees were first being planted and residents were told they would be “little shrubby trees”.

“Now they’re up and over the power lines,” she said.

“Why do we pay our rates if they don’t fix anything that we complain about?”