County Council accused of ‘appalling neglect’ over blocked footpaths in Lickey End

With Britain entering its third full national lockdown last month, residents have once again been asked to stay at home and only exercise in their local area.

But for many residents in Lickey End this has been made impossible by a local landowner who is waging a campaign of resistance to stop members of the public using a public right of way through their land.

A public footpath that runs from Alcester Road through Crows Mill to the A38 has been completely blocked off. The landowner has removed public footpath signs and barricaded styles and entranceways. As if that wasn't enough to put residents off, dogs are also allowed to run free to intimidate anyone who attempts to make the journey through.

Lib Dem Councillor Rob Hunter who represents Lickey End at Bromsgrove District Council has now spoken out after many months of his complaints not being listened to.

Cllr Hunter said "I have complained numerous times to County Hall officials at Worcester and the local Conservative County Councillor Rita Dent but nobody is willing to sort it out. It really is an appalling case of neglect by the authorities who clearly do not feel answerable to local residents over their legal responsibility to maintain public rights of way. I know others have complained too. Residents in Lickey End should be able to enjoy a nice walk-through fields into Bromsgrove instead of having to walk along busy roads or attempt to scale fences and risk being attacked by dogs."

Local Lib Dem campaigner Josh Robinson said "It is outrageous that a landowner has been allowed to illegally block off a public footpath for so long and it is even more outrageous that nobody in a position of authority seems at all concerned about enforcing it. Clearly the landowner is not somebody who responds to polite requests. The County Rights of Way Team need to restore proper access to the public footpath themselves and then send them the bill!"