A Council‑commissioned access audit has confirmed serious trip and fall hazards across Northwich High Street, Witton Street and adjoining routes — as people are being taken to hospital by ambulance almost monthly after falls.
The Access Audit Report – Northwich High Street (Issue 2.0) was commissioned by Cllr Lynn Gibbon (Marbury Ward), Shadow Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Inclusion, after a public petition secured over 1,300 signatures calling for action on town centre safety.
The audit, carried out by the Council’s Senior Access Officer following a site visit in September 2025, identifies multiple Priority 1 and Priority 2 trip‑and‑fall hazards, including:
• Uneven and sunken paving
• Slippery tiled steps on gradients
• Missing or faded step edge markings
• Dangerous slopes and cross-falls well outside safety guidance
Despite the site visit taking place in September 2025, the report took approximately seven months to be released, with five of those months waiting to pass through the approval process, during which time injuries continued to occur.
Cllr Lynn Gibbon said:
“This report was commissioned because residents were clear that the condition of Northwich town centre was unsafe. Over 1,300 people signed a petition asking for action. Almost one ambulance call‑out a month shows that these are not isolated accidents — they are foreseeable and preventable.
“The safety of all residents and visitors must be paramount when coming into Northwich. These hazards affect everyone — older people, parents with buggies, disabled people, and able‑bodied pedestrians alike. This clearly needs improving.”
Commenting on the wider implications, Cllr Gibbon said:
“Northwich is the second largest town in the borough, and it deserves proper investment. Residents deserve a town centre they can feel proud of and safe using every day. A Conservative‑led council would implement the necessary remedial work to address these well‑documented problems.”
The audit also highlights that many dangerous defects fall below current inspection thresholds, meaning they are unlikely to trigger action under existing processes — despite presenting a real risk, particularly of sloping streets where pedestrians cannot recover their balance once they slip or trip.
“This report confirms what residents, businesses and emergency services already know. The risks are documented, the injuries are real, and continued delay is no longer acceptable.”
