ANGRY Trowbridge pensioner Judy Croker says an overgrown footpath behind her property has turned into a nightmare, after spending months try to get Wiltshire Council to clear it.

Mrs Croker, who has lived in her Blair Road home for 50 years, believes the footpath between Manor Road and Talbot Road is the worst it has ever been in all the time she has been at the property.

According to the 68-year-old, it has not been touched since it was last cut back in September last year by Wiltshire Council’s highways and streetscene contractor Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP).

She said she has contacted the council on numerous occasions to get something done about the footpath, while her neighbours have also asked the council to act to no avail.

“They haven’t touched it at all this year,” said Mrs Croker. “I have been here for 50 years and I have never seen it get like this. It is ridiculous and I’ve contacted the council several times, but they say they don’t have the money to do it.

“Initially when I called them they said it wasn’t to do with them and said to contact the relevant housing association, which was Selwood Housing, but they said there was nothing they could do.

“When I got back onto the council they said they would get it sorted and sent a man out, but when he got here he couldn’t believe it and asked how it had got this bad. I haven’t heard anything since.

“It’s so bad I can’t get out my fence gate in the backyard. It’s an absolute total nightmare and it is crazy as it used to be a well used footpath between Talbot Road and Manor Road, but there is no chance of that now.”

Mrs Croker said the council employee came to look at the overgrown footpath about a month ago, but he was not properly equipped to deal with it and was unable to do anything at the time.

She believes the issue started when Balfour Beatty took on the £150m five-year highways and streetscene contract in 2013, with the footpath only cleared once last year after Mrs Croker contacted the council.

“They cut it down once last year right at the end of summer, but even then it never got quite as bad as it is now. It is not just me that is frustrated as a number of my neighbours have contacted them as well,” said Mrs Croker.

“It has got to the point where it is growing through my back fence and it just seems no one wants to take responsibility. The council seem happy just to leave it as it is, even though it has been previously maintained by them.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: “We have received no reports of the footway at this location being obstructed by vegetation, however we will go out and inspect this area and will cut any shrubs that are identified as hindering the public from using the path.”