Overgrown footpath leaving pedestrians to walk in 50mph traffic, councillor claims

Nicholas Thomas, Local Democracy Reporter

Children, parents with prams, and wheelchair users are “routinely forced off” a pavement because of “severe overgrowth” of verges, a a local councillor has warned.

Cllr Will Routley, who represents Bishton and Langstone, has called for the city council to clean up the paths and make the route safer for pedestrians.

“Over several years, severe overgrowth and a build-up of encroaching earth have narrowed this path significantly, to the point where it is no longer usable for much of its length,” he said.

Cllr Routley said pedestrians were left with little choice but to step onto a “very fast, dangerous stretch of road where traffic travels at 50 mph”.

“We are not asking the council for an expensive, full-scale replacement of this footway – we simply require the pavement to be cleared back to its original, full width so that pedestrians can walk safely without risking oncoming traffic,” he wrote in a question to the council’s cabinet.

In response, Cllr Rhian Howells – the cabinet member for infrastructure – said the council was aware of issues with “weeds and vegetation… currently reducing the width of the footway”.

“Whilst the council does not routinely undertake siding works at this location, consideration will be given to carrying out these works as part of a future maintenance programme to help reinstate the full width of the footway,” she said.

Cllr Howells noted the route is part of Newport’s so-called ‘active travel’ network – referring to walking and cycling routes – and could be eligible for future investment.

“This area will remain a potential opportunity for future funding bids, to be considered against other priorities across the city,” she added.

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