CRACKED pavements and potholed roads used by Flackwell Heath shoppers require urgent repairs if accidents are to be avoided, say residents.

Broken and loose paving slabs in front of the Budgens store in the Straight Bit, and a "pot-holed" access road in front of Swains Market, off Heath End Road, have come in for criticism after attempts to seek those responsible have left shoppers and some traders frustrated.

Land outside Budgens is maintained by agents who, residents claim, have not returned their calls.

But land managers have said they are unaware of any "untoward" paving slabs after a recent trip to Budgens.

And Swains Market has been the subject of much controversy after attempts to find out who owned part of a private access road also failed to find answers.

Peter Adams, 40, said it was only "a matter of time" before someone fell victim to pot-holes around Swains.

He said: "I have grown up here and as long as I can remember nothing has ever had anything done to it. I know someone who twisted their ankle there.

"It is particularly danger-ous during winter because the street is badly lit."

According to the Land Registry, there are four different owners of the private access road, including several businesses.

But ownership of the access side from Heath End Road, where there is a giant pothole, is the most controversial.

A Swains Market trader said: "Someone has to sort it out. I don't want anyone to fall down there."

Buckinghamshire County Council said they could not intervene and improve privately-owned land, even in the interests of public safety.

Ian Reed, area co-ordinator for Wycombe, said: "I had a call from a lady in Swains Market. The council has no role in maintaining that."

Budgens forecourt, and the nearby area, is main-tained by managing agents Lamberts, acting for owners, Cuxton Ltd, based in London.

William Heneker, for Lamberts, said: "We're cont-racted to make four visits a year unless someone rings and tells us there is a problem. There are some cracked slabs outside the dry cleaner's part of the same development.

"We are looking to repair some of those slabs.But we haven't had any complaints about Budgens."

Lamberts said they had recently repaired Budgens' car park following enquiries from residents and are also working with the community.