URGENT improvements are due to be carried out to a crumbling walkway to end a catalogue of accidents.

The sloping walkway links the Capitol Walk shopping mall in Congleton with the town's library.

The top layer of bricks on the walls alongside the path have disintegrated, and handrails are in danger of coming away from the brickwork.

In addition the flagged surface of the path is uneven and patched with tarmac in places.

The walkway is owned by mall owners Clowes Developments, and the uneven surface has been blamed for an increasing number of falls.

Now the borough council is to negotiate with Clowes to take over the walkway with a view to carrying out improvements to the path and walls.

"The ramp forms an important pedestrian link to the town centre," said council highways officer David Palmer.

"It is heavily used, in particular by the elderly, and reports of falls due to uneven surfaces have become increasingly common.

"During the last 12 years the owners of the ramp have only carried out minimal maintenance, and on occasions, most recently in March, the local highways office has had to carry out repairs on a public safety basis.

"Although the owners have recognised the maintenance problems they have not been dealt with."

BY IAN ROSS