Following pressure from Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, the county council has agreed to bring forward a  report reviewing the maintenance of cycle paths, pavements, footways and
footpaths.

“Having recently taken up cycling I was shocked to find so many cycle paths put in by the county council had overhanging branches and encroaching vegetation narrowing the paths and endangering cyclists.
Narrowed pavements are making children walk close to the edge of kerbs and blocked drains are causing splashing. Both are deterring children from walking to school and increasing the school run problems.

“Local cycling groups have offered a lot of good quality input to the county council but it is clear from the many faults I have reported that the county’s contractors and their programme of works are not up to it.

“It’s all well and good to have safe off-road green cycle routes laid bit it’s a waste if they are never repaired, the potholes are never fixed and the vegetation is only trimmed at knee height not head height if you are on a bike.

“My fault reporting found serious flaws in the county council’s processes where faults were not being fixed in the agreed time frame and, Ringway (the County Council Contractor) having to go out three times or more to the same site, firstly cutting the road side grass, then clearing the debris and then going back a third time because they had not cleared the overhanging bushes.

“We need a joined up approach to clearing debris and vegetation from paths and cycle ways.

“I have also requested a formal review as part of the winter service plan as to the gritting of cycle routes.

Finally, Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst said , “The County Council needs to take on board that with increased CO2 in the atmosphere and higher temperatures the growth of arboreal vegetation is greater than it has been in the past ,and this change must  be reflected in greater effort being put in to keeping paths, pavements, cycleways and footpaths free from encroachment and overhang.”