A CALL to make towns and communities better places to grow older has been backed by councillors but funding has been questioned.

The move is intended to require a commitment towards the upkeep of pavements and other surfaces as well as addressing issues such as ensuring footways are clear of debris, and parked cars, and adaptions such as drop kerbs are in place.

The motion was agreed by Monmouthshire County Council at its September meeting after being brought forward by Wyesham member Emma Bryn.

She said the council should take such steps as part of its commitment to supporting older people having announced, in August, it had joined World Health Organisation Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities which includes a commitment to listening to older people and working with them to create age-friendly physical and social environments.

Cllr Bryn said : “Better pavements, public transport connections and routes are crucial to helping people walk more.”

The independent councillor said walking routes are essential for older people but the council has poor knowledge of their condition and her motion sought to address that as it would require the council “resolves to increase its investment and focus on enhancing highway infrastructure” to support mobility beyond private vehicle use.

It also required the council to “advance the reporting and recording of footway taxonomy required to achieve this within the county.”

Taxonomy is a word for classification with the dictionary definition stating “especially of plants and animals.”

Cllr Catrin Maby, the Labour cabinet member responsible for highways, said motor vehicles have assumed priority on roads which she said is a cultural development over the past 50 years.

But she said while the council has “worked hard to improve walking and cycling routes there still seems to be a desire to put the needs of motorists above others and I’m disappointed at resistance to some interventions the council has made”.

She however said it has increased funding for maintaining pavements and paths this year and now measures their condition in its annual survey.

”Budgets are always tight, I don’t want to make empty promises but it’s something I think we have to do,” said Cllr Maby.

Conservative member for Gobion Fawr Alistair Neill said it was irresponsible to commit to “increase investment and focus on enhancing highway infrastructure” outside of the annual budget process while his colleague, Raglan councillor Penny Jones, said though she supported the principle decisions “need to be made on evidence as the money’s just not there.”

Cllr Bryn said she appreciated concerns over finance but said the council “should allocate a little more of the cake” towards pavements and paths.

Chief executive Paul Matthews, in response to Cllr Neill, confirmed the motion could go to a vote as it didn’t specify how much, or when, money should be allocated. He reminded the council it is for the ruling cabinet to bring forward a budget, and suggested Cllr Bryn would examine it to check it honours the motion.

The motion was carried without objection though four councillors abstained.