Call for Pendle Council to tidy up overgrown path in Barnoldswick (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Call for Pendle Council to tidy up overgrown path in Barnoldswick

5:40pm Monday 6th July 2009

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TOWN hall chiefs have been slammed after an area visible from a council-run country walk was left overgrown and untidy.

Grass and weeds next to the steps leading to Taylor Street, in Barnoldswick, are so high that a ‘poop scoop’ bin is almost invisible.

Pendle Council’s countryside access officer Tom Partridge said the local authority is not responsible for the area as it is not a recorded public right of way.

But town councillor Jenny Purcell said he should use “common sense” over the “messy” site which is visible from the ‘Steam and Stream’ trail.

Coun Purcell said she asked for the area to be strimmed and tidied up, but was told it was not Pendle Council’s responsibility.

However, Mr Partridge offered advice on how to apply for the path to become a public right of way, so it is maintained in the future. The process involves residents filling in an application form. If there is good evidence that a number of people have used the footpath for 20 years, or more, then it can be added to the official record of public rights of way. Applications are decided by Lancashire County Council.

Mrs Purcell said a lot of the form is not relevant to the area and it showed a “lack of common sense” from the council.

She added: “All it would have taken was a letter on behalf of all the residents to say they do use the area. It’s a complete waste of money sending out these forms.”

Mr Partridge said: “The council’s countryside access team is responsible for looking after 610km of recorded public rights of way.

"We do a lot of maintenance work on these footpaths and bridleways, cutting back vegetation to keep them accessible.

"We do this using limited resources.”

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