Neighbours came together to clear up a neglected pathway after councils failed to act due to bickering over who should take responsibility for sorting it out. 

People living in and around North Park Avenue complained about the pathway opposite the Eaton Park Pitch and Putt site because of its rapidly overgrown vegetation.

They told local councillors about the issue in April, who then reported it to both Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council.

Norwich Evening News: The neglected pathway, in North Park Avenue, opposite Eaton Park Pitch and Putt The neglected pathway, in North Park Avenue, opposite Eaton Park Pitch and Putt (Image: James Hawketts)
However instead of the pathway being sorted, the councils continued to bicker among themselves for the next six months over who was responsible for cleaning the path.

In the end the community decided to fix it themselves in October.

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James Hawketts, Lib Dem candidate for University Ward, said: “We’d been made aware the pathway had become a safety hazard, as people could easily trip on the weeds.

Norwich Evening News: Judith Lubbock said It’s so frustrating to have this unhelpful back-and-forth between the councilsJudith Lubbock said It’s so frustrating to have this unhelpful back-and-forth between the councils (Image: Newsquest)
“We reported the footpath to both councils and followed up with two further reports.

“However each time we received responses that passed the buck on to the other party.

“It was becoming a game of pass-the-parcel, in which nobody was taking any action, so we decided to sort it ourselves.”

Norwich Evening News: Lib Dem candidate, James Hawketts, after the community helped clear the pathwayLib Dem candidate, James Hawketts, after the community helped clear the pathway (Image: James Hawketts)
Even with the path now cleared there are concerns that more of the city is being left unkept due to the back-and-forth from the councils.

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Lib Dem city councillor, Judith Lubbock, added: “It’s so frustrating for the community to have this unhelpful back-and-forth between the councils.

“It took some time to even confirm that this footpath should be maintained by the County Council.

Norwich Evening News: James Hawketts, along with some neighbours in the community, decided to clear up the pathway after waiting so long for the councils to decide who needed to clear itJames Hawketts, along with some neighbours in the community, decided to clear up the pathway after waiting so long for the councils to decide who needed to clear it (Image: James Hawketts)
“It leaves us concerned that many other footpaths are not being maintained, or kept to a safe standard, either.”

A spokesman for Norfolk County Council said: “When it comes to footpaths in this area we treat weeds annually, rather than more regularly, to help prevent damage.

“Our teams inspect footways regularly to ensure they are safe for pedestrians year-round.”

Mr Hawketts added: "The councils must set out a convincing plan for how they intend to maintain their properties, rather than just passing the buck and hoping nobody notices."