THERE are concerns about a tiny side street which has been resurfaced despite the fact that it was unadopted by the local authority.
And despite the fact that it is a public right of way for pedestrians, people are tending to park fully across the pavement on one side, which means people have to walk on the road surface.
Lily Street at the top of Brunswick Street in Nelson is only a brief stretch, but around £8,000 has been spent by Pendle Council on its resurfacing. And nearby, the end of Moore Street has been resurfaced, too.
Parallel to Brunswick Street, there is Walverden Terrace, which only has a backstreet access, and people have to leave it at either end, including Lily Street.
Brunswick Street resident Jan McLardy has raised the issue with Pendle Council. She questioned the situation at a full meeting of the council, and has also taken it up with Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson.
She said: “Why should the public pay for off-street parking?”
She saw a car on the footpath, but when she raised the issue with the owner of the vehicle she found he appeared to have a go-ahead to park there. “I saw a letter signed by the engineering department which was sent to the end house, and that said they could park on Lily Street adjacent to their property. They have now been told they can’t park there, however. ”
And she said: “I can’t understand why the ratepayers should have to pay for this work. I find it offensive that these things are happening. Other residents here are concerned.
“Lily Street wasn’t that bad before – not perfect, but keeping speed down. It is an unadopted road, but the public footway goes down slopes to Southfield.”
Mrs McLardy, who owns garden land on the other side of Lily Street, said Mr Stephenson was looking into the issue.
Pendle Conservative councillor Tommy Cooney said: “It’s a unadopted piece of road and that means it’s not maintainable by public tax.” However, he made it clear there was a highway access there so the public had the right to go through.
He added that after the area was resurfaced it was established that it was a unadopted highway. “We shouldn’t be resurfacing privately-owned land,” he said. “It looks like there is going to be no access down the footway by the public because of parking. Pedestrians are going to have to walk in the middle of the road and that is not acceptable.
“I am not happy with parking taking place fully on the pavement. And it is not maintainable by public taxes.”