GUTTER pipes which are discharging water straight onto the pavement at a shopping parade in Harpenden are in fact illegal. Valerie Newton, of High Firs Crescent, lodged a complaint about the gutters last week after noticing that the water from the pipes,

GUTTER pipes which are discharging water straight onto the pavement at a shopping parade in Harpenden are in fact illegal.

Valerie Newton, of High Firs Crescent, lodged a complaint about the gutters last week after noticing that the water from the pipes, which are attached to the side of many shops along the Southdown shopping parade, quickly turns to ice.

She said in last week's Herts Advertiser: "In these weather conditions it does not take long for a gentle stream of water to turn into a lethal icy river. It is not just me either - I saw an elderly lady struggling to cross one of the icy patches and I really feared for her."

But after making a complaint to Harpenden Town Council, which passed the issue onto Herts County Council (HCC), it was revealed that the owners of the shops are responsible for the land in front of their premises.

A HCC spokesperson added: "It is illegal to discharge water onto public highway. The area at the front of the shops is private land but we understand that water is running from there onto the public highway. We are going to speak to the shop owners to agree a way to stop water from running onto the public highway.