A FRUSTRATED councillor has hit out at council chiefs for ‘not being aware’ of the maintenance issues in Pershore despite numerous incidents being reported.
The Observer reported last month how town councillor Chris Parsons claimed broken bollards, overgrown trees and uneven paving were damaging the town centre’s appearance.
However Coun John Smith, responsible for Highways at Worcestershire County Council, said the council was unaware of the problems with the bollards and the trees on Broad Street did ‘not pose a safety risk’ and ‘no action’ would be taken.
But following the article, the Observer has been handed a document by Pershore Town clerk Ann Dobbins which shows reports were made to the county council about broken bollards as far back as November 2011.
And ten further reports have been made about uneven paving since 2009, the only action taken by county chiefs has been to spray the area to warn shoppers.
Town council staff also reported a resident’s fall in the town to the county council last October but claim 10 months on no action has been taken.
Coun Parsons has also passed on photos which show a tree in Broad Street overgrowing to the extent it goes inside a resident’s study when the window is partly open.
“The trees are causing severe inconvenience to the residents as they do not let light into their rooms,” he said.
“Residents are concerned the spread of the routes may compromise the integrity of the buildings – yet John Smith says no action needs to be taken.
“I think it is appalling that we report issues like this to the county council, as they have requested us to do, but nothing gets done.
“And these problems are serious health and safety issues – people are getting injured regularly.
“I saw one woman trip over the uneven paving face down, her glasses all smashed up and blood everywhere.
“The town council wants the best for our residents and it is so frustrating when nothing is done following our reports.” he
added.
In response, Coun Smith said the county council was looking into the situation in Pershore and had arranged to meet the town’s county councillor Liz Tucker.
“We are in discussions with the county councillor for Pershore and as such will look to take relevant action once talks have finished.” he said.
The tree is so big it grows inside the room when the window is partly open.
Coun Parsons said a resident has to have their lights on all the time in this room, even on a sunny day, because of the lack of the daylight the tree is causing.
The tree clearly blocking day light from a resident’s window above the Dilly Dally shop.
One of the overgrown trees in Broad Street. Pictures courtesy of Coun Chris Parsons.
