A disabled pensioner has hit out at the council after they seemed to dismiss a “potentially fatal” accident he had in a Dundee park.
Peter Anderson, 60, tripped over a tree root protruding above ground level in Claypotts Park while walking his dogs, badly hurting his legs, hips and arms.
He also almost hit his head on a nearby metal pole, which he said would have been “potentially fatal”.
More than a week after the accident he is still suffering from a sore arm and finds it difficult to move.
He warned the council about the hazard, but was shocked when told that the only action they would take is laying down some “chippy dust”.
He then contacted Ferry councillor Craig Duncan who made inquiries and has now been “promised” by the local authority’s environmental department to bring the ground level up so the root is no longer a risk.
Mr Anderson said: “I’m a bit annoyed that I had to go to the level that I did to get something done given the seriousness of the situation.
“They should have been offering to do something more concrete straight away. I was close to a metal pole which could have done a lot of damage if I hit it.
“It was potentially fatal. At the end of the day, the cost to do something is worth it if it saves somebody’s life.”
Mr Anderson has been medically retired since 2005 due to problems with his brain after a haemorrhage in his youth. This has given him trouble with his vision. He admits this may have contributed to the fall, but that the local authority has a “duty of care” to make council property safe for disabled people as well.
Liberal Democrat councillor Craig Duncan said: “Peter is quite right that it is a trip hazard. The way he fell he could have hit his head on the pole quite badly.
“It’s not a concrete path, it’s just earth, so with the windy weather and dark nights coming in you could quite easily not see it.
“I contacted the area manager of the environmental department and he said there were two options, but he agreed to raise the level ground to cover the root.
“I wasn’t involved with the initial decision to cover it with wood dust, but the problem with that is when it gets windy it will be blown away.
“To be fair to the council they are now taking action and have promised to do the work this week.”
A Dundee City Council spokeswoman said: “We are aware of this incident and have taken remedial action.
“We would advise users of our parks to take particular care, especially during the autumn when hazards may be obscured.”
