Council under fire over danger from overgrown paths (From Thurrock Gazette)

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Council under fire over danger from overgrown paths

10:12am Tuesday 13th May 2008

OVERGROWN foliage is causing concern among people in Grays who are being forced to walk on a busy road.

People are being forced onto Bruces Wharf Road to avoid the plants but Thurrock Council claim there is no problem.

Laraine Robins, 51, of Bromley Road, Grays, is regularly forced to push her mother-in-law's wheel chair, and granddaughter's pram into the road because of the overgrown plants.

Laraine, who regularly takes her family into Grays town centre along the route, has been told by the Council that no defect is apparent and that at present, nothing is it to be done about it.

She said: "I am really angry. There is quite clearly a problem as I am regularly forced to push a wheelchair from the pavement to the road to avoid the plants.

"It has been over six months since they have been cut back and it has been gradually getting worse.

"The council have now told me that there is no defect and that they are not doing anything about it."

Council spokesperson andy Lever said: "Thurrock Council has looked at the issue raised but cannot locate a problem.

"However, if the member of public could contact us directly and provide more information we would be happy to investigate further and take what action is necessary to remove the foliage."

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Your Say YourThurrock

trumpwalk, tilbury says...
10:59am Wed 14 May 08

yet another hazard to negotiate, every day I find myself walking in the road to get around cars, vans and on occasions lorries parked on the pavement. When will they be dealt with? My thoughts are never and the same applies to the overgrown vegetation

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pa, grays says...
2:20pm Thu 15 May 08

I asked the council to look at a bush that had completely cut off access to the back of my and several other proprties, preventing any access for the emergency services. It has also overgrown my garage and garden wall and is slowly crushing both. The council's response?
A big fat nothing, not even a phone call, even though you are asked to leave e mail adresses and phone numbers for them to contact you.

This is clearly part of an efficiency drive from the council. Let weeds and bushes and trees grow over everything then no one will be able to see the paths and roads. Hey presto, not only will they save money on not maintaining verges they'll also save on repairs to paths and roads as no one will be able to see them and therefore no one will be able to report any that need repairing.

And to think I thought this council were absolutely crap, they're geniuses.

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Rubber Gloves, Stanford-le-Hope says...
6:26pm Thu 15 May 08

Dear MrMrs/Miss/Ms PA

Here is the email address of the leader of the council Terry Hipsey:-

thipsey@thurrock.gov
.uk

Any complaints direct them to the very top!

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IN THE ROAD: Lee Rutland, 34, daughter of Laraine Robins, with two-year-old twins Teddy and Riley, Other pedestrians are forced to walk in the road on a junction.