County council takes flexible approach to get to the root of pavement problem

There’s a spring in the step of pedestrians in Banbury again thanks to some innovative work done by Oxfordshire County Council.

Trees on Market Place had slowly lifted up areas of block paving, leaving the area looking untidy and in need of repair.

Instead of replacing the blockwork, only for them to come lose again, or cut down the trees the county council has used ‘Flexi-pave’ instead. This material incorporates recycled rubber from tyres and also includes aggregates similar in colour to the rest of the pavement.

The flexibility combined with the pleasing look will hopefully mean that the solution will be long lasting. And, because the material is permeable, the trees will still get the water that they need. The cost of the work was around £50,000.

County Councillor Yvonne Constance, Cabinet member for Environment, said: “We are always looking for new and innovative ways to do things.

“By trying this new material in Banbury we are making good the damaged area and testing out how the recycled mix weathers.”