Sutton Council paid out more than £200,000 in compensation after a number of people injured themselves falling off Trinity Square, in Sutton High Street, despite being warned about the issue five years ago.

The council admitted that it had paid out £205,759 in compensation and that a further £54,743 was reserved against cases pending settlement.

According to figures shown to the Sutton Guardian three claims were made in 2010, five were made in 2011, one in 2012 and a further one was made in 2014.

A damning report into the £3m Sutton High Street development revealed a series of “design faults”, which could put disabled resident’s lives at risk when it was released in 2011.

The 16-page report, by charity Sutton Centre for Independent Living and Learning (SCILL) described the development at Trinity Square as “very hazardous to people with disabilities” with inadequate tactile paving to warn people of the drop.

It also recommended that a guide rail should be installed on the steps and the back of the stage area “as a priority”. However, the railing was installed just two weeks ago after a number of claims had already been made against the council.

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Image from the 2011 SCILL report. 

Tim Crowley, leader of the Conservative opposition at Sutton Council, accused the council of having acted “like an ostrich with its head buried deep in the sand”.

He said: "In April 2011 an internal Audit report was published into the Sutton High street redevelopment which uncovered numerous failings in management oversight, procurement and safety issues in relation to the project.

One of the most serious of these related to impediments for the disabled as highlighted by SCILL showing serious design flaws that could be dangerous to those who had mobility or sight issues. All of the recommendations were accepted by the council and it was said that the issues flagged up by SCILL would be addressed.

“Five years later and it is discovered that the council has had to pay out over £200k in compensation with another £50k pending on another possible settlement due to people suffering accidents falling off of the dangerous drop at Trinity square.

“Two weeks ago railings were installed at Trinity square to make the area safer and to prevent trips and falls. Why did this take 5 years and why just 2 months ago were we told that the area was deemed safe by an external safety consultant when quite obviously it was not?”

"As the council self-insures its first £100k of any claims then this £250k is coming directly from the pockets of hard working council taxpayers. It is a scandal that this has been allowed to continue for five years after it was flagged up and has been continually pointed out to the council which seems to have acted like an ostrich with its head buried deep in the sand."

He added: “In 2011 we as the opposition called for Cllr Jane Mccoys resignation over the inept performance of the council with the Sutton Town Centre project. She refused saying that she had only come into her post in May of 2010.

“Today the Conservatives are again calling for Cllr Mccoy to consider her position and resign as lead member for HEB in the light of putting the residents of the borough at risk and by effectively frittering away £250k when the railings that have just gone in 5 1/2 years after the original report cost just 1/100th of the monies paid out.

“It is time for this incompetence to stop and for Cllr Mccoy to go"

Jane McCoy, Cllr for Wallington South, said in response: "As Councillor Crowley is aware, I ordered, and made public, an audit report to investigate these issues when I assumed responsibility for economic development in 2010.

"If the councillor had taken an interest then he would also remember all the issues raised in the report were satisfactorily addressed in consultation and agreement with the disability access group that wrote the safety report.

"We are installing barriers now to protect the council from further compensation claims. The council has robustly defended claims on the grounds all measures necessary were implemented. Having faced other claims we are taking additional action to protect the public purse."

"It is interesting that Councillor Crowley is calling for a resignation when our invigoration of the borough's economic development has attracted over £450m of inward investment.

"Recent investments in the borough include the development of the old gas works site in Sutton North, South Point, the Subsea 7 offices, the Burger King site and Victoria House. We have set up two new Business Improvement Districts, and enabled funding for Worcester Park, North Cheam, and Beddington district centres.

"This is in sharp contrast with his own failure to contribute anything positive to the borough whatsoever, instead, along with his ineffectual Conservative colleagues, preferring to run down Sutton at every opportunity.

"Under Councillor Crowley's leadership the opposition would prefer to see the borough fail rather than offer any support for the economic ambitions of the Liberal Democrat-run council."

A Sutton Council spokesman said: "Sutton Council has installed railings to the stage at Trinity Square to support the potential development of a new performance space and to improve aspects of health and safety. We have installed the railings in response to recent expert advice.

"The information sent to the Sutton Guardian in relation to claims is correct. We have settled five cases and five more have been refused."

The council did not respond to a question about why it did not act in 2011 to install railings in the square.

Have you been injured walking in Sutton High Street? Email: anders.anglesey@london.newsquest.co.uk, or call 020 8722 6358.