Surrey County Council is responsible for maintaining all pavements in Surrey except those that are privately owned.
Minor repairs such as potholes and trip hazards are repaired throughout the year as they come to our attention and meet our safety standards.
Pavement maintenance in your area
To view a full list of the roads which we plan to work on this year, as well as works we are considering for future years, please visit our Horizon highways maintenance page.
We use a number of appropriate engineering techniques to maintain Surrey's footways. These may include the below:
Pavement slurry
Slurry sealing may be carried out as a low-cost alternative to reconstruction as it waterproofs the pavement and can extend its life by up to 10 years. If we replace kerbstones as part of the scheme this may result in an alteration of height of the pavements.
We can not guarantee the profile of the pavement will stay the same, and access to driveways will remain unaltered once the new surface has gone down. Drives with steep inclines in or out may find that low profile cars find access more difficult.
These works are weather dependent and bad weather may mean works are postponed.
Pavement patching
Patching may be carried out where sections of a pavement have deteriorated but the whole area does not need replacing.
Pavement reconstruction
Reconstruction is carried out when a more durable repair is required as it reduces the need for future maintenance works.
Reconstruction of pavements includes replacing block paving with asphalt pavements, which are less of a safety hazard and are easier and cheaper to maintain. Reconstruction schemes will involve replacement of kerb stones which may result in an alteration of height of the pavements.
We cannot guarantee the profile of the pavement will stay the same, and access to driveways will remain unaltered once the new surface has gone down. Drives with steep inclines in or out may find that low profile cars find access more difficult.
Frequently asked questions about pavements
- How often do you inspect and repair the pavements?
- The pavement is narrow due to overgrown nettles and brambles. Is it possible for you to clear it?
- The pavement is narrow due to lots of growth at the base of trees. Who do I ask to cut this back?
- Can I clear ice and snow without fear of legal action?
How often do you inspect and repair the pavements?
We inspect all pavements at least once a year as part of our regular safety inspections. In some locations, we carry out more regular safety inspections.
If you report a pavement problem online, we will send out an Inspector to look at it. We will repair any safety hazards that we find during these inspections. More information can be found on our Highways Safety Inspections page.
View our planned maintenance for your area, this includes roads and pavements work, drainage, and traffic light and bridge maintenance.
The pavement is narrow due to overgrown nettles and brambles. Is it possible for you to clear this please?
You can report overgrown vegetation (nettles, brambles, bushes, trees) to us.
If the overgrowth is coming from private property, we will ask the owner to cut it back.
Report overgrown vegetation or trees
The pavement is narrow due to lots of growth at the base of trees. Who do I ask to cut this back?
Trees on the roadside verge are our responsibility.
Trees on private property are the responsibility of the landowner. They must ensure that their trees do not pose a threat to pavement or road. If the overgrowth is coming from private property, we will ask the owner to cut it back.
More information about maintaining our trees.
Report overgrown vegetation or trees
Can I clear ice and snow without fear of legal action?
Yes, you can, but there are some important tips to bear in mind before you do this.
The following information will help you to act in a neighbourly way by safely clearing snow and ice from pavements and public spaces.
Will I be held liable if someone falls on a path I have cleared?
There is no law preventing you from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside your property, pathways to your property or public spaces.
It is very unlikely that you would face any legal liability, as long as you are careful, and use common sense to ensure that you do not make the pavement or pathway clearly more dangerous than before. People using areas affected by snow and ice also have responsibility to be careful themselves.
What can I do to help clear snow and ice from pavements and public spaces?
Practical advice from highway engineers is given below. This is not a comprehensive list.
- Do not use hot water. This will melt the snow, but may replace it with black ice, increasing the risk of injury.
- Start early: it is much easier to remove fresh, loose snow compared to compacted ice that has been compressed by people walking on it.
- Be a good neighbour: some people may be unable to clear snow and ice on paths leading to their property or indeed the footway fronting their property. Snowfall and cold weather pose particular difficulties for them gaining access to and from their property or walking to the shops.
- If shovelling snow, consider where you are going to put it, so that it does not block people's paths, or block drainage channels. This could shift the problem elsewhere.
- Make a pathway down the middle of the area to be cleared first, so you have a clear surface to walk on. Then you can shovel the snow from the centre to the sides.
- Spreading some salt on the area you have cleared will help to prevent any ice forming. Table salt or dishwasher salt will work, but avoid spreading on plants or grass as they may be damaged by it. A few grams (a tablespoon) for each square metre you clear should work. The salt found in salting bins
will be needed for keeping roads clear. - Particular care and attention should be given to steps and steep gradients to ensure snow and ice is removed. You might need to apply additional salt to these areas.
- Use the sun to your advantage. Removing the top layer of snow will allow the sun to melt any ice beneath; however you will need to cover any ice with salt to stop it refreezing overnight.
- If there is no salt available, then a little sand or ash is a reasonable substitute. It will not have the same de-icing properties as salt but should offer grip under foot.
