Overgrown verge blocks disabled man's path

An 87-year-old disabled man has said he will no longer use a path linking him with his nearby village because of an overgrown verge.

Bernard Woollaston, who uses a wheelchair, said he twice fell over on the narrow path trying to avoid the foliage on Shums Hill near Kirby le Soken in Essex.

Other residents say they are frustrated at the state of the verge.

Essex Highways said it was sorry to hear of Mr Woollaston's experience but explained that the work did not need "immediate action".

Mr Woollaston said a friend had to pull him out of the road after he fell over in June.

"What I thought was a clod of earth turned out to be something solid and that just tipped my scooter," he explained.

"If anybody had been [driving] down there too fast, I wouldn't have had a chance because I was spreading right across the road."

Mr Woollaston said he suffered a week-long headache and blurry vision, and was told he probably suffered concussion.

Dominic Jacobs, 28, has had to avoid the brambles overhanging the path while out jogging.

"You've either got to duck under them as you walk or run, or step out on to the road which is quite dangerous in oncoming traffic," he said.

"I'll be fine, but the point is it should be trimmed back."

Shums Hill resident Nina Snow, 59, says her daughter had to push her pram in the road when she visited.

"It's so dangerous," she said.

"When it's overgrown, it's impassable. It's not kept clear anymore, it has got a lot worse."

She said some drivers travelled as fast as 80mph (129km/h) on the road.

Regarding Mr Woollaston, an Essex Highways spokesperson said: "We are sorry to hear about this incident and wish the gentleman involved well."

They said its teams typically cut back foliage twice a year, but this week, one of its inspectors decided the path did not need "immediate action".

"To maximise resources, we carefully prioritise works based on risks to the public and will continue to monitor this situation," they added.

Essex Highways said it was also investigating who owned the farmland adjacent to the road.

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