A FOOTPATH closed for nearly two years may not have collapsed entirely due to 'natural erosion', as a councillor calls for answers.
The Liberal Democrats raised concerns over the closure of the Northwick Slip footpath closure in Worcester at a meeting at County Hall in Worcester on Thursday.
Cllr Jessie Jagger attended a session at County Hall on Friday to pose questions regarding the closure of the footpath along Northwick Slip, which has been inaccessible since March 2022.
She has questioned whether other (non-natural) factors "could have" led to the collapse.
We have previously reported that the footpath along Northwick Slip was closed in March 2022 after natural erosion made the path unsafe for walkers.
There are no plans to repair or reopen it any time soon, council bosses have revealed and it would cost between £500,000 and £1 million to reopen the path, estimates have revealed.
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council, said in November: “We can confirm the closure has been extended and there are no current plans to repair the path.”
Representing concerned residents in Claines, Cllr Jagger acknowledged the ongoing efforts of local County Councillor, Mel Allcott in seeking a resolution to the closure issue.
Cllr Jagger said: "Residents in Claines, while not having evidence of wrongdoing or negligence by developers, remain sceptical about the collapse being solely attributed to natural causes.
"Concerns have been raised regarding the potential benefits to developers from a permanent closure, offering unspoiled views for newly built bungalows."
In an effort to address these concerns and promote transparency, Cllr Jagger submitted two questions during the County Hall meeting. She asked for clarification on the cause of the landslip.
In July 2021, the Worcester News reported that a specialist engineer attributed the landslip to "natural erosion."
Cllr Jagger sought clarity on the methodology and data used to reach this conclusion. Additionally, she wished to ascertain whether the engineer can categorically rule out non-natural causes for the footpath collapse.
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She also called for an investigation into the removal of steps leading to the footpath. The removal of steps leading to the footpath was deemed an act of petty theft, and no culprit has been found.
Cllr Jagger asked whether the specialist engineer investigated a potential link between this theft and the riverbank erosion. If so, she sought information on the conclusions drawn by the engineer and the supporting evidence.
Cllr Jagger emphasised the importance of addressing these questions openly to dispel any lingering doubts among residents. She said unless these questions are openly asked and answered, concerns will continue to fester.
Cllr Jagger asked the chair of the relevant committee and the relevant officer to address these questions in writing, 'fostering transparency and ensuring that the community remains informed'.
Kyle Daisley, chairman for Worcestershire County Council, said in response at the meeting: "Thank you very much indeed. I listened very carefully to what you had to say.
"I don't think this falls under the remit of the county council. However, I will ensure that you receive a written response from the relevant cabinet member in due course."
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