Overgrown footpath putting family in danger (From The Oxford Times)
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Overgrown footpath putting family in danger
1:00pm Monday 2nd July 2012 in Witney
By Amanda Williams
Tracy Hellaby tries to cross Farmers Close in Witney with daughter Katie and son Harry
A MOTHER claims she is forced to take her life in her hands during the school run because of a dangerously overgrown hedge.
Tracy Hellaby said she has long had to battle against foliage in Farmer’s Close while taking daughter Katie, seven, to the Batt School, in Marlborough Lane, Witney.
But recently a stretch of hedge running along a pathway in the close, a well used route across town, has become so dangerously overgrown Mrs Hellaby said she cannot pass while holding on to Katie and pushing 18-month-old son Harry in a pushchair.
She said: “It has always been bad along Farmer’s Close, but recently it has got so bad I cannot use the path down the side of the road.
“We have to gingerly set out on to the road and cross to the other side to get past it.
“The Oxford Mail photographer even cut his ear on the branches while taking the photo.
“It is ridiculously overgrown.
“You take your life in your hands trying to cross the road at that time of the morning.”
Mrs Hellaby said she had contacted Oxfordshire County Council’s highways department repeatedly to complain, but as of Thursday evening, nothing had been done.
She added: “I understand we have had a lot of rainfall and that could mean it is growing more quickly.
“But it is very dangerous.
“A lot of people use the pathway. If it is because of budget cuts, maybe they should get rid of it all together.”
County council spokesman Martin Crabtree said: “We are aware of the hedge and are making arrangements for it to be cut.
“We haven’t changed the frequency of hedge cutting as cuts are carried out on a priority basis across the county.”
If there is an overgrown hedge or verge causing problems in your community, email the Oxford Mail’s newsdesk at news@oxfordmail.co.uk
Comments(27)
Dilligaf2010
says...
1:26pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Is the gap a proper footpath, or just somewhere people decided to take a short cut one day?
MadMan-JaYmZ
says...
1:39pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Ross J
says...
1:49pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Yes, the hedge needs sorting, but let's stop the melodrama, no one is forcing her to walk the plank.
For anyone wanting to view the road on Steet View, look at the area leading from New Yatt Road towards the B4022 Hailey Road. Just before the first sweep to the left there is a SLOW sign on the road, right next to a gutter drain. This is where the picture in this report has been taken.
You can clearly see there are alternate places to cross.
Dilligaf2010
says...
1:59pm Mon 2 Jul 12
MadMan-JaYmZ wrote:Really? You're presuming the county council know something. ;-)
well as the county council are now aware its safe to presume its a proper footpath or they wouldn't be sorting it out !
King Joke
says...
2:19pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Ross J wrote:She is trying to cross the road in the picture. Why should she though, if a path has been provided but the County can't be fagged to maintain it properly?
This is a ridiculous claim by this mother. Clearly the hedge is overgrown, and if you look on Google Street View you can see just how much it has been neglected, however, there are different places to cross which would add less than 2 minutes to the journey time. Yet she is forced to 'take her life in her hands' - is her life and that of her children worth less than a few minutes? Yes, the hedge needs sorting, but let's stop the melodrama, no one is forcing her to walk the plank. For anyone wanting to view the road on Steet View, look at the area leading from New Yatt Road towards the B4022 Hailey Road. Just before the first sweep to the left there is a SLOW sign on the road, right next to a gutter drain. This is where the picture in this report has been taken. You can clearly see there are alternate places to cross.
britinpaus
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4:13pm Mon 2 Jul 12
the wizard
says...
5:45pm Mon 2 Jul 12
SueW70
says...
8:30pm Mon 2 Jul 12
britinpaus wrote:I'm sure you really wouldn't want to stand on that road with a pair of hedge clippers and besides, the powers that be would probably prosecute you for something stupid like criminal damage to council property. Obviously, this poor woman is frustrated at the Council's lack of responsibilty. It is clearly a dangerous situation and needs to be sorted out. I am sure that there are many other families in the area that are also concerned about the hedge but are not willing to take a stand on it. It's not as though she's moaning about it looking untidy! I say well done to her for trying to get something done about it - maybe if we all took some action on these issues things would get done!! So Thank You Mrs Hellaby - ignore the people who have nothing better to do than put you down!!!
Could I suggest she borrow some hedge clippers and take care of the problem. Why are we so incapable of looking after ourselves and need the government Nanny State to do everything for us.
Hannah-Parsons
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8:38pm Mon 2 Jul 12
SueW70
says...
8:43pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Hannah-Parsons wrote:At last!!! Another sensible, level headed person :))))
I often use this pathway when walking to and from work. For anyone who lives near the area will know it IS a footpath and not a cut through made by someone one day!! I also agree its a very dangerous place to cross (it wouldn't be an issue crossing on the bend if the hedges were the height they should be and not over grown). The council planted the bushes and so its their responsibility to maintain them. Why should some poor mother have to run the risk of being hit by a car to cut them herself. As this lady has commented, if they cant be maintained then they should just be dug out. The footpath is there to be used so why should pedestrians be forced to use another route to cross the roads. I don't understand the negativity from people towards a mother WALKING her children to school! People are so quick to comment on things they clearly know nothing about!!
Dilligaf2010
says...
8:45pm Mon 2 Jul 12
.........Wow, I didn't realise it was that overgrown, he's on the opposite side of the road!
Hannah-Parsons
says...
8:48pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Dilligaf2010 wrote:Again, if you live near the area you will know there is bushes that run along either side of the road!
“The Oxford Mail photographer even cut his ear on the branches while taking the photo."........
.........Wow, I didn't realise it was that overgrown, he's on the opposite side of the road!
Dilligaf2010
says...
9:48pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Hannah-Parsons wrote:You don't appreciate humour then?
Dilligaf2010 wrote:Again, if you live near the area you will know there is bushes that run along either side of the road!
“The Oxford Mail photographer even cut his ear on the branches while taking the photo."........
.........Wow, I didn't realise it was that overgrown, he's on the opposite side of the road!
AW Albemarle
says...
9:51pm Mon 2 Jul 12
Ross J wrote:After reading the above comments there are a few things I would like to add:
This is a ridiculous claim by this mother. Clearly the hedge is overgrown, and if you look on Google Street View you can see just how much it has been neglected, however, there are different places to cross which would add less than 2 minutes to the journey time. Yet she is forced to 'take her life in her hands' - is her life and that of her children worth less than a few minutes?
Yes, the hedge needs sorting, but let's stop the melodrama, no one is forcing her to walk the plank.
For anyone wanting to view the road on Steet View, look at the area leading from New Yatt Road towards the B4022 Hailey Road. Just before the first sweep to the left there is a SLOW sign on the road, right next to a gutter drain. This is where the picture in this report has been taken.
You can clearly see there are alternate places to cross.
Ross J - There are other locations to cross, however the crossing further down heading towards the Hailey Road is just as dangerous. The overgrown hedge obstructs the pedestrians view of traffic heading down the hill.
britinpaus - I am aware of some residents getting fed up and doing it themselves in the past. But why should an individual spend their own time doing the council's job and then having to dispose of the waste? The council seem to be keen to cut the grass on the estate but the hedges seem to be neglected.
The council have been contacted about the issue in previous years when the hedges get to this state but trying to get through to the correct department isn't easy. It is not as if they are not aware of this issue, the council offices are only 150m up the road!
pocketpixie
says...
7:52am Tue 3 Jul 12
Tas1972
says...
8:06am Tue 3 Jul 12
Firstly I live in this area & would like to point out that Google maps does not give a true representation of the area, this hedge has been a recurring problem as is the actual road itself due to the speed that people drive so there is actually no safe place to cross! This Mother is clearly walking some distance to school with her children by doing so she is one less vehicle on the road (presuming she has a vehicle) therefore she should be able to walk safely to & from her destination. I know for a fact that this is a public footpath therefore should be maintained accordingly by the powers that be. As far as cutting the hedge herself may I suggest you take a look at the hedge to see the sheer scale of it but also the legal implications are that she would possibly be charged with Criminal Damage!! We are supposed to be helping our environment by not using our vehicles so why when someone chooses to walk are they not allowed to take their route of choice & why should they have to walk a greater distance just because the Authorities don't give a ****? I just wonder what the comeback would be if there was an accident?
xjohnx
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10:19am Tue 3 Jul 12
If the council fail to maintain the hedge in a safe condition or force the owner to do the same, councillors may be held liable to surcharges.
donzo1990
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12:00pm Tue 3 Jul 12
Hannah-Parsons
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12:45pm Tue 3 Jul 12
donzo1990 wrote:As per previous comment, why when the footpath is there should another route HAVE to be used??!!?? This women may live in one of the houses that back on to the road and therefore IS the right way to go to Batts or any other school in the town centre. A big deal it may be to some, but i can assure you that if someone gets hit by a vehicle (buses also travelling this route), be it an adult or child god forbid, due to the lack of visability, i think then this whole ordeal wont be seen as a ''BIG DEAL'' as it could of prevented the accident in the first place. Hopefully it wont take that to happen before the authorities actually do soemthing about it!!
i know this road very well i grew up in this area, she is going the wrong way if shes going to bats, but yes it is a very dodgy road iv always hated it, but shes making a big deal about it when she doesnt even need to walk that way!
Tas1972
says...
12:46pm Tue 3 Jul 12
donzo1990 wrote:If you know this area well you would know that this is probably the safest route, I walk into town & it's the route that I prefer to take as crossing West End & Mill Street/Bridge Street is hard enough on my own without children or a pushchair in rush hour traffic, not to mention the narrowing path along Bridge Street when the large bins are put out, Batts school is in the centre of Witney & if this offending hedge is where she lives it's not her fault! I also know how this hedge hampers vehicles travelling down Farmers so it's not just about pedestrians why should vehicles be forced to scrape along the hedge? This woman has the right to use a PUBLIC FOOTPATH safely
i know this road very well i grew up in this area, she is going the wrong way if shes going to bats, but yes it is a very dodgy road iv always hated it, but shes making a big deal about it when she doesnt even need to walk that way!
donzo1990
says...
4:02pm Tue 3 Jul 12
Tas1972
says...
5:13pm Tue 3 Jul 12
donzo1990 wrote:Regardless of when or how the photo was taken you're missing the important point and that is the fact that this hedge is drastically overgrown and makes both crossing the road and driving dangerous, why do people feel the need to criticise someone for trying to raise awareness of an obvious problem? This woman has not been rude or disrespectful but has simply tried to make an unsafe area safe again, good on her I say pity there are not more people willing to make a stand, if I'd of known I would have gone and supported her! She isn't responsible for the photos or the exact wording of the article!
i know she does im not saying she doesnt have the right, but shes going towards vanner road which is the wrong way into town! it makes no sense to me thats all bridge street is much better and safer.yes she may live where shes walking to but it says when shes walking her child to school, not walking home, so once again shes clearly going the wrong way
donzo1990
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6:15pm Tue 3 Jul 12
Dr Robert. Iffley Fields
says...
8:24pm Wed 4 Jul 12
Hannah-Parsons
says...
9:51pm Wed 4 Jul 12
Dr Robert. Iffley Fields wrote:Its not about being a story, clearly you are missing the point of this article! Yes..Lets put the mother in the road BACKWARDS and leave the BABIES motherless!! Either way you look at it, lives are put at risk having to cross here! You have to step into the road to see pass the bushes. At the end of the day, the council are in the wrong for not maintaining these bushes! If they are able to cut the large grass area that is behind the bushes, why cant they cut them?? WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY PAYING OUR COUNCIL TAX FOR???? If its not going on fixing the roads (which judging by the state of the roads around Witney it is clear its not) or maintaining COUNCIL property, where is it going??
But why is she risking her baybees life by pushing the chair into the road?. Surely she would turn around and pull the buggy so she can look into the road and then cross when it is safe? But then it wouldn't be a story then would it.
Man on the Green
says...
9:22am Thu 5 Jul 12
pocketpixie says...
1:19pm Mon 2 Jul 12