RESIDENTS in Lowes Hill area of Bromsgrove feel they’ve been led up the garden path after campaigns to restore an uneven and dangerous walkway have fallen on deaf ears.
Pedestrians using the walkway connecting Mendip Close and Pennine Road are furious that nothing has been done after tree roots have pushed up the slabs, making it uneven.
Worcestershire County Councillor, Josh Robinson (Lib Dems) has been campaigning for its restoration for the better part of 12 months – but to no avail.
No one is claiming ownership of the path with neither the developer Bovis Homes nor the county council or Bromsgrove District Council claiming responsibility for its maintenance.
“People have tripped and injured themselves and are asking for this path to be made safe for them to walk on,” said Coun Robinson.
“I agree with them that work needs to be done and I have chased Worcestershire County Council and Bromsgrove District Council who both deny having any responsibility for it.”
Bromsgrove District Council confirmed developer Bovis Homes owns the land but the developer has said it is not responsible for the upkeep of the footpath or its maintenance.
A joint statement from Bromsgrove District and Worcestershire County Council said: “We can confirm that neither council own the land in question.
“Worcestershire County Council has updated the local county councillor to clarify this.”
When a development takes place within a local authority, it has the right to adopt or deny adoption of the scheme’s public amenities, including footpaths, and parks.
As footpaths and walkways are the responsibility of the highways authority – in this case Worcestershire County Council – they could in theory, put in motion a plan to adopt the land and restore and maintain the path on behalf of nearby residents.
Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Bromsgrove, Dr David Nicholl hit out at the lack of action over the footpath.
He said: “As we head towards winter and given the clear risk of falls, it is vital that pavements like this get repaired – it is precisely in this kind of area that we want to see local government crack on and take action.
