Re: Been stirring it!
That should work Silver Tabby, anything where the council might have to pay out compensation as a result of what they are responsible for usually, in my experience gets results.
A defect in the tarmac surface of the pathway outside my house, similar to the one you describe caused me to trip, fortunately without any injury. The defect was possibly where gas came to the village and an obvious channel dug in the pathway, then tarmac used to restore the surface.
Over time, possibly with the odd vehicle being driven along the pathway too, the area of the channel and tarmac repair had cracked leaving quite a gap for the unwary. I reported this to the council and within a week or so workmen arrived to repair it. Traffic lights were installed as the road is very narrow, a small tracked digger dug the complete pathway up the length of the width of my house with new tarmac laid all along there.
All that just for what was mostly a cracked surface was not what I expected but was noted by neighbours, many of whom much to their amusement, mentioned about how I must have 'friends' in the council to have had all that done. As it happens I do not know anyone in the council but just made a justified complaint the same as any of them could have done.