| Hedges on the path, which runs between Kemnay Gardens and Aboyne Avenue, have reached a height of around 10 feet, blocking out light from the street.
Aboyne Avenue resident Michael Docherty (60) uses the path every day and says a lot of elderly people are now avoiding using the shortcut altogether.
“We’ve been trying to get something done about it since last October, but nothing’s happened,” he said. “A lot of elderly people used to walk along the path to Asda, but now go by the road, which is much longer.
“At night, schoolkids hang around there drinking and causing a nuisance. They know they can’t be seen from the road because the hedge is so high. I’ve had to call the police to get rid of them before. You don’t feel safe walking down it at night. I’m a bus driver and I’m sometimes walking down there at the back of midnight after a late shift.
“And people are dumping black bags full of rubbish there.”
Pitkerro councillor Christina Roberts said she was pursuing the matter with the council. “The problem is the owner of the house where the hedge is can no longer look after it himself,” she said. “He pays for the hedge to be trimmed on his side, but doesn’t see why he should pay for the side on the path. When the hedge was put in, it was done so with the agreement of all the residents and he doesn’t think it’s fair that the upkeep should be his responsibility alone.
“I understand and agree with Mr Docherty’s concerns. I have raised the matter as a health and safety issue and I’m going to look into taking someone from the housing department out to look at it.
“One option is replacing the hedge with a fence.” |
