Resident gives up garden for footpath (From Gazette Series)

Resident gives up garden for footpath

A RESIDENT of Wickwar Road in Kingswood has offered to give up a section of her garden free of charge to enable a footpath to be built.

People living at the far end of Wickwar Road must walk on the road to reach their homes because there is no path.

One resident has to take children, including one in a child's buggy, along the road.

The road has a 30mph limit but villagers claim drivers rarely adhere to the speed limit.

There is currently a stretch of grass verge at the roadside but a hedge in front of one of the houses interrupts it.

However, the owners of that property have told Kingswood Parish Council that they would happily give the land up for free for the benefit of their neighbours.

Gloucestershire County Council has previously indicated that it could not justify spending an estimated £20,000 on acquiring the land to build the path because of the relatively low number of people such a project would benefit.

Ward county councillor Dr John Cordwell (Lib Dem) said if the offer was made in writing then the council would reassess their stance on the issue.