A frustrated mobility scooter rider says it's never a smooth ride in Tenterden town centre as the pavements are too narrow and there are very few dropped kerbs.

Peter Lake, who lives in the town, says he has to be very careful when travelling in the high street - particularly when faced with tables and chairs outside cafes.

He is calling on council bosses to improve the pavements to alleviate the issue.

"The council has been talking about widening the paths for a long time," he said.

"There are cobbled stone lanes leading into properties behind the high street.

"There are also a few cafes which have chairs and tables which take up at least half the width of the pavement.

"It's very difficult to get past them with a scooter - sometimes it's almost impossible."

After hearing mobility scooter users in Ashford say it's a nightmare to navigate through the town, Mr Lakes feels Tenterden is a lot worse.

"It's very, very difficult with a scooter in Tenterden," Mr Lake says.

"I think our situation is a lot worse than Ashford and I have to be very careful that I don't bump into somebody, or damage my scooter by going down a curb onto the road.

"I've done it once and had to claim on my insurance."

If necessary, Mr Lake gets off his scooter to move chairs obstructing his route, but says not all people who use scooters are able to do this.

'All businesses require a licence to have tables and chairs outside...'

"I'm quite lucky," he said.

"I can get around, but a lot of people on mobility scooters are not as mobile.

"We as mobility scooter riders don't moan as we feel we are lucky to have the means of getting around.

"All scooter users have to be so very careful.

"The scooters are meant to have suspension, but it's impossible to get a smooth ride because of the state of the pavements.

"With narrow pavements, they get more crowded.

"You have to be careful when people come out of shops because some people don't look and walk straight into your path. I mean that's human nature, but it's the width of the pavements and their state which is the issue.

"The council should be careful on the rules in which they let businesses put tables and chairs out on the pavement."

Tenterden Town Council says there are issues at times, particularly in the summer months, with tables and chairs outside cafes and pubs.

"All businesses require a licence to have tables and chairs outside," a spokesperson said.

'You have to be careful when people come out of shops...'

"We have in the past made a polite request to some businesses to be aware of pavement widths and they are generally sympathetic.

"However, you cannot predict what users get up to."

A Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson said the highways team is firmly committed to supporting disabled people to get about and recognise the challenges people with additional needs face.

“That is why KCC has a mobility action plan, which outlines the measures we are taking to allow greater accessibility to roads and pavements in Kent," they said.

“Our highway stewards regularly inspect our roads and pavements to ensure obstacles are removed and faults, such potholes, are identified.

"We also work with district and borough councils as required, including where improvements are suggested by residents via joint transportation boards and highway improvement plans prioritised by parishes in conjunction with highway officers.

“Improvements can sometimes be made more complicated due to the historic nature of roads and pavements in some areas of the county.

“Dropped kerbs are an important part of the pedestrian network and KCC is committed to providing dropped kerbs where required, according to an agreed set of priorities and funding allocations."

The spokesperson said people can visit kent.gov.uk/highways to report problems themselves.