Crackdown could end the shame of a city centre dirty 'slab splash'

It has happened to us all. Walking through Manchester city centre, blissfully unaware of a potential day-ruiner right beneath our feet. And then we stand on it.

All of a sudden, a splash of dirty water is catapulted towards our shoes and legs. Invariably, it’s the day you’ve decided to wear your brand new white trainers and a light-coloured pair of jeans, so the damage is visible for everyone to see.

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It’s only a small thing, but it can be enough to ruin someone’s day. But those instances of aquatic assault by pavement could soon be few and far between.

That’s because the way in which paving slabs are installed has been changed — which means the days of loose flagstones catapulting water onto your leg could be numbered.

The change has been revealed in an update on the condition of the council’s road and pavement network.

At the meeting of the authority’s economy scrutiny committee on Tuesday (January 9), Kevin Gillham, the council’s head of citywide highways confirmed the news that may improve Mancs’ days by a little bit.

“Flags will be laid on concrete beds, rather than sand beds in the city,” he said. “It’s something we are very, very aware of.”

A spokesperson for the council has also confirmed that the change will also improve the lifespan of city centre paving, which is some of the most walked-on in the region.

"A change has already been implemented on how flagstones in the city centre will be repaired in the future, moving from a sand bed to a concrete/mortar one,” a spokesperson said.

“In the long term this will improve the integrity and lifespan of the paving in the city centre."