A local councillor warned there could be an “impending catastrophe” in a Sefton Road with potholes "the size of craters" which the council refuses to maintain.
The unadopted road, Knob Hall Lane in Southport, has been the subject of an ongoing row over who should look after it for many years.
Built in the 1830s by the Hesketh family as part of their estate, ever since a ‘breach’ of agreement between the family and Southport corporation in the 1930s, there has been much back and forth over who should look after the road.
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At times work was carried out by Sefton Council as part of a “keep safe” policy and over the years there were various unsuccessful negotiations between the local council and homeowners over getting the road adopted.
This would mean “substantial payments” by residents who own homes along the street, which requires up to £500,000 of maintenance work to get it into “adoptable” condition.
After local councillors queried the situation, which has left residents “weaving between craters” a review was carried out into its legal status.
A report released in December last year stated that after substantial research and legal advice, officers had recommended the council have no responsibility for the upkeep of Knob Hall Lane going forward, a decision then approved by Cabinet member for locality services, Cllr John Fairclough.
At a meeting of Sefton Council’s overview and scrutiny committee tonight, March 8, where that decision had been “called in”, Liberal Democrat councillor Leo Evans said that it was only a “matter of time” before a serious accident took place.
Calling on the council to reconsider their decision, Cllr Evans said: “I am concerned where this decision leaves residents and the situation going forward.
“It is only a matter of time before a serious accident takes place and there are issues around legality.
“I ask for it to be considered whether or not there are other alternatives, such as reinstating the keepsake policy or alternative methods for adoption otherwise the situation won’t change and will only get worse.”
Responding Cllr Fairclough said that he had spent “many hours” discussing the issue with council officers before making the decision but felt there “was no other conclusion that could be reached” than to decide not to spend any public money on the road.
Cllr Fairclough said: “It is unadopted and as everyone’s been aware what we’ve had to face over the last 10 years, the money that’s been reduced from our budgets and we have to be careful with everything we spend .
“We only have money to spend on our own highways. There are also many other unadopted roads in the borough ad they’re not maintained at public expense either.”
Cllr Fairclough added that while he had “great sympathy” for residents and that the situation at Knob Hall Lane was “very complex” he could not justify spending money from the public purse on maintaining the street.
After councillors submitted a motion of “no concern” with the decision, a vote was taken and approved by majority, meaning the council’s decision to have nothing to do with the maintenance of Knob Hall Lane stands.
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