Pavement maintenance

Pavements can suffer very badly from overriding vehicles. The council is responsible for the maintenance of roads, including pavements and footways.

The exception to this is private streets, unless they have been adopted by the council.

Trip hazards on pavements are a key concern. We also deal with seasonal problems such as weeds, standing water and ice. We address these problems in this order of priority:

• slab movement, uneven ironwork, and edge depressions with a trip of 20mm or more
• overhanging vegetation
• major cracking.

How to report any problems with pavements (except on private streets)

Find out how report road and pavement problems

To report any other problems, please contact us on the details given at the end of this page.

If you witness any damage being done to pavements in Tower Hamlets, please report this to us. If possible, please provide us with the vehicle details, and what you saw, so that the council can recover the full cost of repairs to the pavement.

When work is being carried out on the roads (including the pavement/footway), the organisation carrying out those works (including utility companies) is responsible for ensuring that:

• there is a safe diversionary route for pedestrians and other traffic while the work is being done
• they restore the pavement to a satisfactory standard when the work has finished

Theft of paving stones

The theft of paving stones and gully grates can be hazardous and disruptive.
If you would like to report an offender of pavement or gully grates theft, please use the contact details provided below or report a theft online.

Private streets

A private street is a street that is not maintained by the council. The responsibility for private streets lies with the street owners, usually the people who live on the street.

How do I report a private street that has unsafe paving?

• You need to report the problem directly to the owner (usually the frontage).
• If the problem is thought to be a 'danger' (for example a deep hole in the road suddenly appearing), please contact us. The council will arrange to make it safe by placing barriers or road closures around the hazard.
• However, permanent repairs still have to be carried out by the owner/s.

How do I report a problem with gullies and drains on a private street?

If thought to be dangerous (for example a missing gully lid), please contact us. The council will arrange to make the problem safe. The owner will then need to make permanent repairs.

Obstructed pavements

Any building materials that block the pavement cause an obstruction to pedestrians, and are potentially dangerous. If you encounter any of the following problems, please contact us.

• skips / scaffolding / advertising boards blocking the pavement
• no barriers around street works / roadworks
• banners or bunting causing an obstruction, or
• any other building materials blocking the pavement, or building work that is endangering pedestrians.

Report a pavement obstruction online

Contact us:

Public Realm
Mulberry Place (AH)
PO Box 55739
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 1BY

Tel: 0207 364 5004
Fax: 0207 364 3121
Email: generalenquiries@towerhamlets.gov.uk