Dear Editor,
Last August, I wrote a letter (Wistaston resident fearful of perilous path) to Nantwich News raising my concerns for the safety of walkers on the busy Wistaston Green Road in Wistaston, due to its degraded road surface and the obstructions and narrowing of the path adjacent to the Bellway ‘Kingfisher Reach’ housing development construction site.
I also reported the hazards on Cheshire East Council’s ‘Report It’ website, http://www.cheshireeasthighways.org/report-it-general.aspx
Unfortunately, several months later, the situation has barely improved.
Whilst some sections of Wistaston Green Road between the Golden Jubilee Bridge to near Brydson Crescent junction have been patched up there are still numerous potholes and ruts on other parts of the road.
The obstructions and the narrowing of the path, caused by temporary signage and fenced off areas at the roadside, that appeared on Wistaston Green Road due to the Bellway construction site, are also still in place.
These factors make social distancing impossible without a party stepping further into the road to pass each-other.
I note that two ‘PEDESTRIANS IN ROAD’ signs have been added along this section of road in recent weeks, so at least Cheshire East Council and Bellway have acknowledged that this is a dangerous route for walkers.
However, Cheshire East Council should have forced Bellway to build a tarmacked footpath alongside the affected area on Wistaston Green Road prior to the start of construction on their housing development.
Bellway need to urgently liaise with Cheshire East Council to improve pedestrian safety by removing the obstructions and widening and tarmacking the pathway, otherwise I dread there will be a collision with a member of the public.
CEC and BELLWAY will have blood on their hands if a pedestrian is injured or worse!
Yours
Jonathan White
Wistaston
I agree that it would be great to have a footpath down there.
We live in Nantwich but I recently worked at a local cafe so I know that part of Wistaston.
Would love it if me and my husband could walk down the path for a big lunch and ignore my husband’s old friends as if they were invisible.
Dear Mr White,
I agree – we need an action group to deal with this issue.
We could call it BAPS (Build A Pavement Scheme) – as then we would have all the men’s attention at least.
David
I have seen many dead animals down this road too – a splattered fox and a mashed badger. Tragic really.
The local wildlife could use the path if there was one – come on developers!!!!
I agree – they should get a pavement in so I can get to the pub faster. And on the way back, if I’m a bit wobbly, keeps me off the road. Lols
Hi Jonathan,
I wholeheartedly agree with your comments – pavements should have been put in years ago – the developers don’t care, they just want to make profits and to hell with safety!
Regards,
H