Frustrated Basford nan says no one is listening over 'disgusting' footpath

Since Nottinghamshire Live got involved, Persimmon has promised to send out a tree surgeon

A Basford grandmother claims the "disgusting" state of a footpath near her home is causing a safety risk to people who use it on a daily basis. Iris Busley, 77, says most of the street lighting along the path has been blocked due to overgrowing trees and vegetation.

The Skylark Drive resident has been raising concerns about the issue for years but says nothing seems to improve. Having fought for years for the installation of the footpath's streetlights, Mrs Busley says the way the area is being maintained is "wrong".

The bridleway, which leads from Skylark Drive through Mill Street recreation ground and up towards Bulwell, is mainly used by local residents and cyclists. While the footpath is owned by Nottingham City Council, the trees on the land are owned by Persimmon Homes, leaving the housebuilding company responsible for the maintenance of trees and vegetation.

It is understood no reports have reached Persimmon regarding Skylark Drive and that a tree surgeon most recently visited the area back in March. Bird nesting season has also only just passed, with tree maintenance activity limited between February and August.

Yet Mrs Busley says more needs to be done to ensure the safety of residents given the reported lack of lighting along the footpath. The former Neighbourhood Watch coordinator for the area said: "Nobody seems interested and it's doing my head in. I would say this has been going on for the last three or four years.

"If someone ends up being murdered, mugged or raped, then something will probably be done. I go to darts on a Monday night and when I was coming back I couldn't see the street lights and it's disgusting.

"I've lived here for 28 years and the way this area has gone downhill over the last five years is unbelievable. It took us 10 years to get these lights up when we had the support of the Graham Allen MP and now you're lucky if you see one of them, it's wrong."

A Persimmon Nottingham spokesperson said: "Our customer care team wasn't made aware that the trees along the footpath at Skylark Drive are overgrown. Since being made aware of this on October 8 we have arranged for a tree surgeon to visit within the next week to assess the situation and determine any necessary work.

"To ensure that we can respond swiftly to any future concerns, we would encourage residents to please contact our customer care team directly in the first instance."