Focus on Paving


Paving: Still


number one?


An increasing number of local authorities are turning away from paving as a hard landscaping option as trip hazards become an increasing cause for concern. Clinton Young, National Specification Manager at Charcon, part of the Aggregate Industries group, explains why paving should still be the number one choice for public open spaces and discusses how innovations in hard landscaping are not only helping to eliminate health and safety risks, but can also enhance the public realm.


Streets account for about 80 per cent of public space in urban areas. They are the primary space for public interaction and activity in our towns and cities. Despite previous lack of investment, streetscape projects are now on the rise and local authorities have been tasked to find the best way of developing these spaces.


Margot Wallstrom, a Member of the European Commission responsible for Environment, recently commented that: “The quality of the environment in urban areas is of vital importance. It is one of the main factors that determine whether a city is a healthy place to live, whether we enjoy living there, and whether we want our children to grow up there.”


Creating urban spaces that are safe and offer their inhabitants a sense of pride and wellbeing are high on the agenda for most local authorities, as demonstrated by the common vein of messaging that runs through many public realm reports published by city councils.


For example, Leeds City Council’s report focusses on increasing pedestrian movement by ensuring that traffic is prevented from dominating the city. They want their urban spaces to contribute to the city’s vibrancy and believe that: “Simplified spaces and the removal of clutter will assist in this endeavour.”


Further south, Oxford City Council is seeking to enhance a sense of pride in its city centre, city villages and estates by creating clean and welcoming streets, as well as space to move and find ways about.


This is where flag and block paving comes into its own. It is integral to every streetscape, interfacing with the surrounding environment, and can deliver on many of the elements on local authority wish lists, including public safety, durability, wayfinding and visual appeal, as well as ticking the sustainability and cost-effective boxes.


PUBLIC SAFETY


There are various different hard landscaping options available to help mitigate potential hazards in and around public spaces. These include deterrent paving, tactile units for the visually impaired, or even cycleway kerb segregation systems to protect cyclists from traffic.


Local authorities often worry that paving can cause trip hazards, however this would only occur where the units had been a) incorrectly installed, or b) subject to loads the paving wasn’t designed for - which generally means either the wrong product was specified, or heavy vehicles have ventured where they shouldn’t have.


To alleviate situations like this, steel reinforced paving is recommended and has been employed very successfully, particularly across a number of London boroughs where HGVs regularly pull up on busy high street kerbsides and pavements to access shopfronts and unload.


38 Eco Countryside Widetop Kerb Step Units, Birley Fields, Manchester


Thanks to a steel mesh within the block, whilst the paving will still crack when subject to extreme compression. It will not break and drop, nor cause a trip hazard. The aim of reinforcing the paving is to avert differential settlement.


In terms of slip hazards, all paving has to meet British Standards and is therefore subject to slip skid tests. For areas that may need additional safety measures, textured paving can be considered but local authorities should assess the terrain and likely users of the space; a wheelchair user, for example, won’t appreciate a roughly textured slope. Fortunately, there are various texture levels to choose from and a happy medium can be achieved for all users.


Hard landscaping can also be used for traffic management. Whereas paving which features domes or rumble strips can deter vehicles from entering public areas, speed humps and other calming components can be specified to direct or slow traffic, thus safeguarding those pedestrians who are using the space.


DURABILITY


Paving is a tried and tested method which dates back to Roman times. Let’s not forget that sections of many Roman roads are still present today, even here in the UK, despite having been constructed around 1,800 years ago!


Whether concrete or natural stone, block paving is highly durable, capable of withstanding extremely heavy loads. This makes it perfect for areas such as park and rides and bus terminals, as well as lighter-use areas such as pedestrian thoroughfares - again providing the right product is installed correctly.


Compared with other solutions, concrete block paving boasts a life expectancy of 20 plus years and copes well with freeze/thaw situations without suffering any detrimental effects. Natural stone of course can last indefinitely.


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