Routine maintenance ensures that the footways (pavements) of Dorset remain in a safe and usable condition. Identifying faults quickly may prevent a minor fault developing into a more serious safety issue or if left untreated, could further deteriorate and require a more costly repair.

In general, routine maintenance covers:

• Minor footway repairs (including patching)
• Maintenance of highway verges, grass cutting
• Treatment of weeds
• Tree cutting and maintenance
• Issuing of licences for scaffold and skips on the highway
• Emergency work such as the removal of fallen trees or other obstacles

In addition, Dorset County Council undertakes:

• Regular road inspections of all footways
• The on-site control of public utilities working in the roads