A PATH in Sling which has been virtually impassable for more than nine years has been cleared – thanks to much local persistence to Gloucestershire County Council.

The footpath on the side of the B4229 Coleford/Chepstow road has – through a lack of maintenance – been reduced to only about a third of its original usable width.

But an incident where a resident overturned his mobility scooter sparked West Dean Parish Councillor Bill Gayler to spend the next four years endeavouring to sort it out.

To his surprise just before Christmas a workforce was on the job clearing the footpath to its original state.

He said: “I’ve spent the last four years working through the council’s public safety committee, and managed to get Gloucestershire County Council Councillor Paul McMahon to arrange and subsidise some removal of encroaching grass growth on the busiest part of the footpath after seeing a parishioner – who fortunately wasn’t hurt – overturn his mobility scooter while crossing an access way as a direct result of the overgrowth on a ramp.

“Since then I have, as parish councillor for Ellwood and Sling ward, been in regular dialogue with Brian Watkins (Gloucestershire County Council highways manager).

“Mr Watkins’s department has done some absolutely essential work but, because of persistent budget restraints, he has been unable to do much despite sharing concerns over the safety of pedestrians using the footpath.

“To get the pathway sorted is the most wonderful Christmas present for Sling. Thank you Gloucestershire County Council highways for making it safer to walk to the shops in Milkwall.

“As a result of further lobbying, Highways has also agreed to reduce the speed limit between Lambsquay corner and Trow Green junction in Bream on the B4228 from 60mph to 50mph. The changes come into force this year.”