Ealing Liberal Democrats say almost 800 residents have signed its petition calling on the council to remove leaves from pavements which could cause slips or injuries.

Pavements covered in excessive leaves could present an increased risk of a fall and broken bones to vulnerable residents especially those with limited mobility, disabilities or who are frail, argue the Lib Dems.

Ealing Council previously deployed additional street cleaners to collect leaves to ensure that the streets were safe for residents.

Now the council encourages residents and volunteer groups to collect the leaves in their local area. Free bags can be requested from the Council after completing an online form. 

Still Ealing Council carry out 'standard cleaning' of streets either weekly or every two weeks, but 'deep cleaning' which includes weeds, blossom and leaves takes place at least three times a year.

In addition the Lib Dems say Ealing Council is reducing local green garden waste bag collections this year, by reducing service months from 12 months to nine months, which is not reflected in the fee collection.

Councillor Gary Malcolm, Leader of the Opposition said "Liberal Democrats believe that Ealing Labour have done a poor job of managing the borough, they are running down services across the borough for the last fourteen years.

"We think it is time to draw attention to these basic services which residents should be able to rely on as part of paying their council tax!

"It is not unreasonable to expect residents to walk down streets and not risk a fall adding further strain on an overstretched NHS this winter." 

An Ealing Council spokesperson told Ealing Nub News: "Safety is a top priority for us, and we take residents' concerns about leaf build-up on pavements seriously.

"Our current street-cleaning resources are allocated based on need, prioritising main roads and areas with higher footfall, particularly outside schools, and residential roads with more trees/leaves.

"While budget constraints following a review in 2022/23 have reduced the number of operatives and limited funding for additional resources during peak leaf-fall periods, we remain committed to maintaining clean and safe streets within our available means.

"With over 557km of roads to manage, our teams, including five mechanical sweepers, work hard to address priority areas efficiently.

"In areas with lower footfall, where leaf clearance might take longer, we are providing tools and resources to residents keen to help.

"We have received a positive response to the provision with 745 requests for bags and tools so far, compared with 316 during the whole leafing period last year. 

"This collaborative effort ensures streets are cleared sooner to avoid accidents, while fostering community pride and shared responsibility for public spaces.

"We continue to review how resources are deployed to balance safety and sustainability while managing significant budget challenges."

To find out more about the petition click here.

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