THURROCK Council is getting up close and personal with pathways in its bid to improve the state of pedestrian areas across the borough.

The authority has hired the services of an innovative mapping service called MAVIS, which uses a motorised scooter that is equipped with a specialist 360° camera and surveying technology which allow the Council to capture detailed information about the borough's footway network.

Unlike larger surveying vehicles, the scooter can travel along narrow footways and areas that are difficult or impossible for a conventional vehicle to reach.

A statement from the council says: "This means the Council can get much closer to the condition of the footways used every day by pedestrians, wheelchair users and mobility scooter users.

"Using this new tool will help the Council identify features that may affect the condition, usability and accessibility of footways. The information gathered will be analysed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and will provide a clearer picture of where improvements or further investigation may be needed."

Council deputy Leader and cabinet member for Transport and Highways Cllr Alan Benson, , said: "We are pleased to be bringing this innovative surveying technology to Thurrock. We take pride in our borough, and having safe and accessible footways is our utmost priority as it is an important part of our local infrastructure.

"The MAVIS scooter gives us an improved and quicker way of looking at our footway network from the perspective of the people who use it every day. With the information gathered we can continue to build a better Thurrock for us all."

The scooter will be out and about across the borough for the next couple of weeks.

Download our Nub News App!

- It’s FREE and available now
- Breaking news notifications
- Your Town in Your Pocket