FED up residents are calling for a clear up of an unkept and vandal-struck footpath which runs through the centre of Portishead. People living in Downside say they are becoming increasingly concerned at the state of the path which runs alongside their pro

FED up residents are calling for a clear up of an unkept and vandal-struck footpath which runs through the centre of Portishead.People living in Downside say they are becoming increasingly concerned at the state of the path which runs alongside their properties up through to Leeside.Residents claim the path has been left to fall into rack and ruin over the years as no one knows who owns it and is responsible for its upkeep.They also claim it has become a night-time gathering place for yobbos who daub walls with graffiti, cause noise and nuisance into the early hours and cover the area with litter.Resident Jonathan Poole is now pressing for repairs and a clean up to be made to the path.Mr Poole, aged 52, said: "The path runs alongside my property and it really is in a terrible state."Parts of it are an absolute disgrace and have accumulated a lot of graffiti and litter."There are also parts of it where the pathways and steps are crumbling - it's an accident waiting to happen."Mr Poole said his property had also suffered at the hands of vandals using the pathway as a shortcut home from the High Street pubs.He added: "On one occasion I have had my hedge set on fire."We cannot sleep with our windows open on Friday and Saturday nights because of the noise. Other neighbours have problems with youths gathering in the pathways at night."One has just built a new wall just for it to be completely covered in graffiti."Mr Poole contacted Portishead councillor Reyna Knight who is taking up the cause on the residents' behalf.Councillor Knight said: "The problem is that there are many pathways like this in Portishead, some of which are owned by North Somerset Council and some of which are not."The problem arises when we don't know who is responsible for maintaining certain paths and they fall into a poor state."I am taking up the issue with our parks and open spaces department to see what action can be taken.