Portslade twittens are too overgrown to use after not being cleared all year, says a councillor.
North Portslade Councillor Peter Atkinson says the paths should provide a safe passage for residents and their children to the Peter Gladwin school and Portslade Old Village.
He is calling for the council to properly clear and maintain the twittens connecting Henge Way, Badger Close and Anvil Close to Foredown Road.
Resident Louise Holdstock said: “These pathways are a pleasant and safe way to get to the school but have become virtually impassable, especially with a buggy.”
Cllr Atkinson says the pathway is normally cleared of excessive foliage, brambles, stinging nettles and weeds at least annually.
Cllr Atkinson said: “These twittens are very well used and allow residents and children to get to school away from the traffic and fumes of Foredown Road which can be pretty hectic in the mornings and afternoons.
“I just don’t understand it. These paths have been cleared each year since I became a councillor in 2015 but not this year.
“I’ve got a good relationship with local managers from both City Clean and City Parks but am getting no response to date.”
Lead councillor for the environment Councillor Tim Rowkins said: “We are aware of this issue and are committed to taking action to cut back the vegetation as soon as we can.”
If you are serious in a commitment to active travel then get this sorted so children can walk safely to school. Nice to see Cllr Atkinson trying to sort this, has anyone seen or even heard from our other Cllr. She appears to be MIA.
Yes had to email councillors about 1 year ago said don’t know who owns pathway but 3 days later they sorted it out
Why is this country full of moaners cut it yourself lazy people
1. Perhaps come and see the size of the problem. When council operatives last came it took 3 of them with machinery almost a day to clear.
2. It is the council’s statutory duty to keep their paths safe, and we pay our council tax to cover the cost.
All part of ex Green councillor, Jamie Lloyd’s, rewinding project. Fortunately, he has now departed, leaving Steve Davis as the Chief Fruitcake (West and Shanks aren’t eligible for this on grounds of mental capacity)
*rewilding* !
I bet it didn’t get in that state within a day, though, did it Peter? Nor must it be cleared within a day either.
Little bit daily and easily solved.
It may surprise you Barry but people pay council tax (which rises every year) to the council to do these jobs.
We have been fighting to get paths clear of weeds and trip hazards in our area for years.
We do volunteer To do clean ups in our area but there is only so much we can do Ian Beck Secretary Hollingdean Residents association
Definitely ways to manage it over the course of the year so it doesn’t become a big job. You could also use EDB to hire a Gardner to do the work. Respectfully, I think there are a few things more you could do, Ian.
totally agree, people spend so much time winging and complaining that someone should do something without thinking maybe that persons me
Thank you for that brilliant advice. Perhaps suggest it to the council who we pay to do it, but feel that once per year is sufficient.
Or are you offering to clear these paths?
Why not cut it yourself, remember seeing cyclist that uses that path do exactly that
Seems like the most sensible option here. Do a little bit a day between multiple people who are interested in the path, and it’ll soon be clear. Then a little bit of TLC so it doesn’t get into a state, again, with a little bit done in bits.
Totally agree that public should be doing our bit when plants start to encroach. It’s common sense to break off a stem or pull off a shoot as you go past. if you see a glass bottle on a path pick it up instead of thinking someone else gets paid to do that.
How about creating a community group, not only to keep the snickets clear, but also to enhance them so that they become a place of pride within the community.
Sounds like a fun thing to do, get outside for a bit, socialise a little and do a little bit of green improvement. We did that with our area, I’m a bit biased, but it certainly is looking pretty amazing these days.
I don’t think it’s our job to clear this. It has been dealt in the past without residents having to do it themselves. My garden keeps getting a visits from slow worms due to excessive foliage behind our house unabling my so from using the garden as he is scared of them. Not to mentioned the sting nettles they scratch us everytime we walk past it . This is unnaceptable and I hope it gets sorted before it gets worse ( if it can get any worse).