PORTISHEAD'S coastal footpath is to get a 'health check' following concerns about its unkempt state. Portishead Tourism Group is to make a special trip along the path, which hugs the coast, and make a list of improvement work which needs carrying out. The

PORTISHEAD'S coastal footpath is to get a 'health check' following concerns about its unkempt state.Portishead Tourism Group is to make a special trip along the path, which hugs the coast, and make a list of improvement work which needs carrying out.The move comes after members of the group and local residents raised concerns about the poor state of the path.They said ramblers had to face rubbish strewn across the walkway and negotiate dangerous, overgrown hedges.Portishead Tourism Group chairman Bill Shier said: "There are a few members of the committee who are going to walk along the path and make an inventory of the jobs we think need doing."In places the path gets in a bad state and although North Somerset do cut back the hedges I understand it only does it twice a year, which I don't think is adequate. "There have also been problems with litter and broken railings and benches reported."Mr Shier said there were also plans to press for improvements to the footpath which linked the Lake Grounds to the marina and the pathway which snaked its way to Portbury.Mr Shier added: "We want to encourage people to the town."When they come to visit the Lake Grounds they may want to walk along the coast and then they are faced with a tatty path."This is not the impression we want to give to visitors."North Somerset Council spokesman Zoe Briffitt said regular maintenance was carried out on the coast path.Mrs Briffitt said: "The coast path is cut twice a year, three times if there has been extreme growth."We also inspect key areas of the path if there has been high tides or strong winds."We cannot regularly walk the length of the coast path so we rely on the public to report areas of concern to us."As regards the tourism group, we would be delighted to receive their comments.