Frustrated residents have spoken out about their street after a petition was created demanding that its pavements be fixed. Pavements in Wolsey Road, a residential street in Newark, have been described as the "worst for miles around" by councillors due to the poor condition of the paths.
More than 100 residents have signed a petition which was handed to the Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council by Councillor Debbie Darby during the council meeting on Thursday, January 19. The petition is calling on the County Council to address the tree roots coming through the pavements on Wolsey Road, and repair the pavements as a matter of urgency.
Councillor Darby said: "Can I present over 100 signatures on behalf of residents in Newark including popular local campaigner Gill Dawn. We are asking the County Council to deal with the protruding tree roots and repair the pavements on Wolsey Road, Newark.
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"The pavement is in a terrible condition and we need action urgently.” Due to the petition an inspection will be carried out on the pavement, and a report will be created before the March meeting of the County Council.
Councillor Dawn, a Newark Town Councillor, added: “We’d like to thank Councillor Debbie Darby for publicly handing in the petition, to AJ stores and the over 100 residents who signed it. The pavement on Wolsey Road is the worst for miles around.
"Roots are protruding though causing cracks. The pavement is uneven and dangerous.
"We want the roots to be dealt with and the pavements resurfaced. People on mobility scooters, the elderly, anybody in a wheelchair and parents using pushchairs are particularly affected."
However, whilst residents are pleased to see action being taken, many fear what the pavement repairs could mean for the beloved trees which border each side of Wolsey Road. Video editor Ben Gathercole-Day, 40, said: "When we moved into this house about a year ago one of the things we loved was that it's a tree lined street, which you don't really get.
"We had noticed the tree roots coming through and making the pavement uneven, I think my wife has tripped over them a couple of times. It would be nice if they got it fixed, but I don't want the solution to be getting rid of the trees."
Carer Tracy Ball, 53, has described the pavements as "terrible." She explained: "We don't like walking down the street because of it to be honest.
"I've not got any mobility problems and I still struggle and I feel for the older residents and those with problems that have to walk up the street to the school. The trees have destroyed it and they are too tall and too close to the gardens."
Tracey explained that walking on the pavements "is not doable, especially for the older residents. They are scared to go to the shops sometimes. I have seen mothers and children coming back from the school with prams struggling from it."
A 54 year old business owner who did not wish to be named said: "I suppose there is quite a lot of unevenness. Sometimes we have to walk on the road. We don't want to get rid of the trees as they are a nice feature on the street. It is a difficult situation as there hasn't been much maintenance and many houses don't have dropped curbs to get to their drive."
He believes the regular weight of cars going up and down onto the pavements could have had an impact on the pavements' condition. He added that when he first moved to Wolsey Road, he looked at the price of dropping the pavement.
He said: "The price was going to be about £1100 then to do it privately to drop our own curb, that was ridiculous. It's just the state of the pavement is really bad now."
When asked about the pavement on Wolsey Road, retired Sheila Ansell, 79, said: "It's dreadful, but we do love the trees. I don't want them to bring them down.
"It's just that the roots are right up and all across and is he (her husband) is having a job walking anyway. I don't know how they can do anything without taking the trees down, we are against anything that means cutting the trees down."
Speaking of the cars parking on the pavement and accessing driveways, her husband Alan Ansell, 80, added: "It's probably doing more damage to the pavement than the trees."
Wolsey Road resident Beverley Waby, 49, has also been experiencing issues with the pavements. She said: "The tree roots are all coming up everywhere, and I think it's gotten worse with the weather.
"I think its just made it worse and the trees are getting bigger and the roots are coming further up. I had them all dug up on my drive. Usually yeah, when we you are pushing a pram across and it is just bump, bump, bump."
A 38 year old administrative assistant who did not wish to be named said: "I've seen that they are doing the petition but I've not noticed an issue. Although I don't always come this way, and I suppose the pavement is quite up and down.
"Around the trees it is a bit of a mess."
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