OVERGROWN bushes and trees are covering pavements and forcing pedestrians into the road say angry residents and councillors.

The pavements in Southend Road, Wickford, have been covered by bushes and trees that the council has not cut back.

Angry residents say that the issue is comprising the safety of pedestrians and that something needs to be sorted as soon as possible.

Eunice Brockman, 60, of Mount Close said: “This issue has been going on for some times and we have been reporting this to the council on several occasions.

“The issue is that people with prams or buggies or even people on disabled buggies cannot get past these bushes and trees safely.

“In some places it is really bad, pavements and footpaths are for pedestrians and walks not for overgrown bushes and trees to cover and lay across.

“During school term time when the children are at school there are schoolchildren walking along that road and they are also forced into the road and it is so dangerous.

“Another thing to highlight is that I think that this sort of work is what we pay our council taxes for so that the council carries out this kind of work.”

Peter Holliman, Wickford Independents councillor for Wickford Park, said he believed councils are putting saving money before people’s safety.

He added: “I know that councils are cutting back and that there just aren’t the resources nowadays but this is just not acceptable.

“It feels as though the councils are not taking safety seriously enough.

“Public safety is and should be a priority for councils and keep footpaths and pavements clear comes under this sort of thing.

“If there was a group of schoolchildren coming along this road they would be forced to walk in the road as there would not be enough room on the pavement.

“We do not want people walking in the road at all.”

Mr Holliman added that it is a difficult issue and that he understands this sort of work takes council money and workers, but it’s important.

A spokesmanfor Essex Highways said: “We have arranged for an urgent inspection of the area to see what needs to be done and to cut any problematic branches back. Southend Road is inspected each month and any problems, like overgrown bushes are reported, risk-assessed and cut if required.”

A spokesman for Basildon Council said: “We are aware of this situation and a cut back has been scheduled.”