KentOnline

bannermobile

News

Sport

Business

What's On

Advertise

Contact

Other KM sites

CORONAVIRUS WATCH KMTV LIVE SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTERS LISTEN TO OUR PODCASTS LISTEN TO KMFM
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE
News

Maintenance dispute leaves cycle path covered in weeds

By: Gemma Constable

Published: 10:37, 19 July 2012

Lynne and Vic Clarke with their dog Baggins who have complained to the council about the cycle path near their home, which has become over-grown and virtually impassable

A popular cycle path has become overgrown after Sheppey’s local authorities disagreed over who is responsible for clearing it.

Resident Lynne Clarke, said the way has become so overgrown by weeds users are unable to go through it.

The 60-year-old and her husband Vic, 70, formerly used the site which is by the canal banks, near to Edenbridge Drive, in Sheerness.

Mrs Clarke said: “It is so overgrown on both sides you can’t use it. One woman on her mobility scooter can’t get through it any more.

mpu1

“You would have to get off your bike and step to one side which just isn’t good enough.

“I don’t cycle that way at the moment and my husband usually bikes every day through there. Now he is having to go around another way.”

The Appledore Avenue, Sheerness, resident complained to Swale council about the state of the track, which is part of a route around the whole Island.

The health visitor, who works in Sittingbourne, added: “If you are going to do something like create a cycle path then you have got to do it properly haven’t you? It was really nice when they opened it so it is a shame this has happened.”

A possible reason for the lack of upkeep is a disagreement between Swale and the Kent Highways Agency.

A spokesman for Kent Highways said: “We have an agreement with SBC over the maintenance of this cycle path.

mpu2

“Kent Highways is responsible for the surface condition of the path and SBC maintain the vegetation along the path.”

However, a Swale council spokesman said that weed control was the responsibility of Kent Highways.

They added: “We do know that weed spraying in Sheerness was undertaken approximately three weeks ago.

“As part of cost cutting Kent Highway Services have reduced the number of sprays from three down to just one.

“We will ask for a monitoring officer to visit and assess the effectiveness of the spray, and we will then take the appropriate measures to clear.”

Read more

More by this author

sticky

© KM Group - 2024