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Original poster

Council not maintaining footpath - how to encourage them into action?

48 replies

lillieD · 11/08/2022 13:27

I'm considering emailing them to ask them (nonchalantly) what the clearing schedule is for the footpath alongside my house.

They will probably reply and say 'annually or every six months,' but they haven't actually done it in years.

So then I would submit a Freedom of Information request to ask them how often they have 'actually' done it - and perhaps this would shame them into action?

I would also like to ask them to tarmac it over. Do you think they would?

OP posts:

Nuisancepenguin · 11/08/2022 23:13

It sounds like you haven’t even asked them yet, so why are you talking about FOI etc? Just report it, wait and see what happens. Point out that it hasn’t been sorted for a long time, give them the chance to look into it.

ShaunaTheSheep · 11/08/2022 23:15

It's possible that it has 'fallen off' the works schedule and the council/its contractor is not aware of it.

Just report online via the council website, it will be inspected and a decision made about weed spraying, cleansing and repair. If it's purely cosmetic it will be low priority, but if there is a health and safety issue (pothole, trip Hazard) that will give a faster repair.

Please don't do an FOI. It is a mind boggling waste of council officers' time and doesn't make things happen any faster.

Chocolatiestchocolate · 11/08/2022 23:55

Ils have a cutaway along the back of their garden. Its acess to the garden too. Council not been this year. Its a large town council (250000 + population) . Theyve said they're no longer clearing and maintaining small cutaways in residential areas. And its up to those that want access.

Taketheweather · 11/08/2022 23:58

Get Rod Stewart on the case.

garlictwist · 12/08/2022 05:34

I go out with my secateurs (spelling) and regularly clear a path near me myself. This is because I like to use it for my runs and it gets quite overgrown with nettles and brambles. I have no idea who would do it if I didn't or if it's even a thing the council do but as I selfishly want to use it, I just tackle it myself.

TidyDancer · 12/08/2022 05:47

Don't use fix my street. Some councils don't use it, it's not very good for a lot of things and it delays reports getting to the right place. Get the email address from the council website and contact them directly.

From your description, it actually doesn't even sound like this footpath is maintainable at public expense. Possibly due to not being adopted by an authority. Councils aren't actually obligated to do this and quite often don't depending on the development.

Broadly speaking though, material maintenance of the footpath will usually fall to county councils and they (again usually) will contract cleansing to district councils. Does depend on local arrangements though and whatever the real ownership is. All likely to be done ad-hoc rather than on a schedule.

ethelredonagoodday · 12/08/2022 14:09

Just catching up on this thread, and chuckling at the comments about FOIs. They are a pain and everyone I work with groans when they come in.

Most councils have a 'report it' button on their website where you can submit comments/complaints/defects.

Original poster

lillieD · 12/08/2022 20:10

The path is 100% maintainable at public expense.

I think a FOI would shame them, yes.

OP posts:

Inklingpot · 12/08/2022 20:50

lillieD · 12/08/2022 20:10

The path is 100% maintainable at public expense.

I think a FOI would shame them, yes.

So you haven’t reported it at all then.

Why do you think the footpath alongside your house should be tarmacked at public expense? I’m guessing you won’t tell us.

fyn · 12/08/2022 21:01

I don’t understand how you know for sure it is owned by the council if you haven’t even reported it.

LIZS · 12/08/2022 21:09

Agree, report the uneven surface and trip hazard, with photos. They should send someone to inspect it. How well used is it? Many councils are limiting pruning and mowing under "green" credentials to savemoney.

TidyDancer · 13/08/2022 08:09

You're wrong about the FOI. It wouldn't shame them, nothing different would happen at all and you'd just delay any response you were going to get.

How do you know it's maintainable at public expense?

EllieQ · 13/08/2022 08:35

TidyDancer · 13/08/2022 08:09

You're wrong about the FOI. It wouldn't shame them, nothing different would happen at all and you'd just delay any response you were going to get.

How do you know it's maintainable at public expense?

True. An FOI request is processed by the FOI section, then they contact the relevant department for a comment, wait for a response, then send the response back to the person who asked. So there’s usually a couple of days extra compared just contacting the Highways department.

It’s unlikely to ‘shame’ them unless you contact your local paper and get them to do a story about it, but you’d look stupid if you haven’t even reported the problem first!

JuneOsborne · 13/08/2022 08:42

Report it. Wait and see what the answer is. If you have no joy, contact your local councillor.

CrapBucket · 13/08/2022 08:47

Give it a try. Your council might have a FOI Cone Of Shame and hold a procession along the path whilst residents pelt the naughty council workers with tomatoes.

Then again you could just send a straightforward email.

Oblomov22 · 13/08/2022 08:57

I am a great email battler/fighter/complainer, love a good fight! But even I agree that an email to start off with is enough. The FOI part seems wierd at this stage.

Ariela · 13/08/2022 09:48

We had hedgerow overhanging the road (with no footpath) that made visibility of walkers tricky round a bend. Despite adding a message monthly to the council website about it after 2 years of no action merely 'point noted' replies, I stepped up a gear, and got 12 gmail addresses and complained from each, added info, photos and a link to complain to a local FB page, and generally coerced another 25+ people to complain. It was cut back this summer.

Seeline · 13/08/2022 10:00

I can't see what good a FOI request would do. It doesn't matter when it was last done, or how often it has been done in the past. You just want it done now.

Report the issue to the Council ( maybe your County Council for Highway matters), and if you don't get anywhere speak to your local Councillor - they can usually get things moving.

Floralnomad · 13/08/2022 10:03

As you have not ever reported it your approach sounds a bit OTT , just email the council ours are normally pretty good if you actually email ( cutting overhanging trees / over flowing bins etc ) . If you don’t succeed with an email just talk to your local councillor as they love being seen to sort out local issues .

tirednewmumm · 13/08/2022 12:38

Why would they be 'shamed' by an foi! It's usually a separate team that does those anyway. Have you actually emailed and requested it or flagged up the problem. You're making this harder than it needs to be

SuperSange · 13/08/2022 13:57

You won't shame them. They won't care a shit. Just report it though the normal channels.

TheSuperbOwl · 13/08/2022 14:07

Don't phone or email them or report it via Fix My Street. You've obviously got access to a computer so just go on your Council's website and report it online on their highway or RoW page.

For · 13/08/2022 14:13

Go to the next Parish Council meeting, ask which Parish Councillor has responsibility for that road (or for footpaths in general) explain fhe problem and ask them what they’re going to do about it and how you can help them speed up getting it fixed.

Emails get ignored.

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