Discontent grows over lane

A MEETING is to be held next month to discuss the future of a footway in Clevedon.Residents have been complaining that Nursery Lane, which links Gardens Road with Hill Road, has fallen into a bad state of repair with the road surface cracked and perished.The lane, which is understood to be privately owned, is a public right of way and therefore its maintenance is the responsibility of North Somerset Council.Clevedon councillor Ian Bates, who has organised the meeting between local residents, business owners and North Somerset Council, said: "Residents complained to me about the poor state of the lane."About half way down there is a part of the path where the surface has come up and become cracked."This, in my opinion, is where a heavy goods vehicle has gone up the lane and dug into the road surface. With the bad weather, it has made it worse and parts of the lane now need repairing."The lane is used by people parking in Alexandra Court and at the rear of the former NatWest building.Suggestions have been put forward to install a bollard at the Gardens Road entrance of the lane to stop traffic using it.Cllr Bates added: "There are issues with ownership of the lane and the fact that it is a public right of way."If someone fell over and was injured, who would be responsible?"These are all issues which we need to get round the table with the relevant people to thrash out."But the suggestion to install a barrier has not been welcomed by all.Town councillor Robert Garner said: "A lot of people use this lane to park at the rear of the former bank. Not only that, but depending on where any bollard was put, it could affect access to Alexander Court."This lane leads to parking areas and if it is taken away then people will just park on the roads and congest the local streets.