People fall on slippery surface

The New Plymouth District Council will be trialling a new product on the city’s footpaths along the main street after a woman slipped and broke her wrist on Friday.

The accident was one of two serious slips, one of which involved a pregnant woman, within two days and has forced the council to take action to fix the ongoing problem of slippery sidewalks caused by wet weather and leaves from alder trees along Devon St.

The woman slipped on the footpath outside Jane’s Gallery, on Devon St West, about 9.45am and broke her wrist as she fell to the ground.

Retailers said the hazard was costing them business because accidents were happening daily and it was preventing customers from shopping at their stores.

New Plymouth District Council manager parks and open spaces Stuart Robertson said the council was going to trial a new product to coat paved surfaces around the CDB to solve the problem.

‘‘That is water repelling, reduces slip risk, prevents aquaplaning, is antimicrobial, inhibits moss, mould and lichen growth and is Eco friendly (nontoxic),’’ Robertson said.

Initially 800m3 would be treated,

‘‘We have people falling over all the time.’’

Diane Winwood

at various sites around the city including the scene of Friday’s accident and at Centre City, to test its effectiveness, he said.

Friday’s was not the first trouble caused by autumn leaves, rain and the smooth surface combining to create chaos along the street, retailers said it was a problem that had plagued the city for years.

On Thursday a heavily pregnant woman almost came to grief outside Ziera, retail assistant Diane Winwood said.

Winwood said it was fortunate someone else was able to stop the woman from toppling over.

‘‘We have people falling over all of the time.’’

Robertson said the product, which cost $1200, had been ordered on Friday and was expected to arrive next week. Coating the trial surfaces should be carried out within a week depending on the weather, he said.

‘‘The cost of covering the CBD hasn’t been calculated as we first need to determine its effectiveness and where we think the product will have the best results.’’