Angry residents have blasted council chiefs after a bridleway built for people to get out and exercise is branded a “trip hazard”.
The path – measuring around 750m (2,460ft) – runs next to the M5 motorway in Worcestershire for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
Locals dubbed it ‘The Yellow Brick Road’ after the colour of the stone material which was used to construct it two years ago.
It was laid so residents in a new housing estate in Whittington could easily walk or cycle to the village instead of using their cars.
But a combination of bad weather and regular use has left the trail riddled with potholes and slippery in places.
Developers Persimmon laid the path but it is now maintained by Worcestershire County Council.
Steve Brooker, chairman of Whittington Parish Council, said: “The construction was some form of hard-core that was yellow in appearance – the locals named it the ‘Yellow Brick Road’.
“The surface, from the outset, was unsuitable, leaving pedestrians and cyclists with yellow mud, particularly during or after wet weather, on their shoes, clothes and pushchairs.
“With time, the ‘yellow’ in the main has disappeared but the mud is still there, making the footpath at best unsuitable and at worse, not usable.”
He continued: “Residents have complained to parish councillors and we have raised it with county highways and the developers (Persimmon Homes).
“The response has been that it is acceptable and there are not any plans to improve or upgrade this path.
“There is the talk about active travel but cyclists can’t use it as mud sticks on the bike. With dog walkers, the dogs bring the mud into the house.
“Step into St Peter’s and Warndon and walkers and cyclists can find foot and cycleways with tarmacadam surfaces, signs and safety barriers. Why can this not be mirrored across the county if the intention of promoting ‘active travel’ is genuine?”
Residents living nearby claim the path is a “trip hazard” and say they are being forced to walk on the road.
One said: “It is horrendous. It is really boggy. I’ve fallen over, our neighbour has also fallen over in it. It is disgusting the state of it. The lighting of it is bad as well at night, all you have is the lights from the motorway. They could have done it really nice with trees.”
Resident Jonathan Sutton, 45, said: “It’s ridiculous we now have a bridleway which is actually more dangerous to use than the road. It’s a trip hazard for walkers unless you have ski poles to keep yourself from skidding over the crumbling, uneven surface.
“I know of at least two older folk who have suffered quite nasty falls after losing their footing on the path. It was supposed to encourage people living here to walk to the village but what it has done is push everyone into their cars.
“It was supposed to encourage people living here to walk to the village but what it has done is push everyone into their cars.”
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council Highways said: “We have been liaising with both the local county councillor for the area and the developer, Persimmon, about concerns raised with us regarding drainage of this rural public right of way.
“Once the drainage issues have been fully addressed we will assess the condition of the path.
A Persimmon spokesperson said: “These paths have now been handed over to the council for maintenance.
“The open space surrounding these paths is managed by the Persimmon team.
“Any matters surrounding drainage are currently being addressed by us and will be resolved in the coming weeks.”
