Row over 'eyesore' Easington footpath as MP calls for repairs

An MP is on the warpath over the state of a footpath.

Easington MP Grahame Morris has called on Durham County Council to replace the 'eyesore' path in Seaside Lane, Easington Colliery, which he says was significantly damaged during the demolition of the Former School building.

The county council recently completed work to repair the footpath, but Mr Morris says a mix of paving and tarmac has left the path uneven and an 'eyesore'.

Mr Morris, who has written to the council, calling for the path to be reinstated to an acceptable standard, said: "The work carried out on Seaside Lane falls below an acceptable standard.

"The Council say they want to improve the villages where we live, work, and visit, which does not align with slapdash work on this footpath.

"The mix of old and new tarmac, alongside paving, makes the surface uneven and hazardous to pedestrians and those with mobility issues.

"This standard of work would not be acceptable elsewhere in County Durham, and it is not acceptable in Easington Colliery.

"The council is our principal authority for delivering regeneration and economic growth locally, and work such as this creates a perception that they simply do not care about East Durham.

"Pavements are the most basic infrastructure, and the Council should give more due care and attention to creating attractive communities where people want to live, work, and visit.”

But Cllr John Shuttleworth, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for highways, rural communities, and community safety, defended what he said had ben a sort-term solution to the problem to safeguard pedestrians: "We have received Mr Morris’ letter and will be responding to him as soon as we can," he said.

"Our team of inspectors carry out routine checks of all footpaths across County Durham and in this location they regularly find paving stones which are broken or damaged as a result of cars parking illegally on the pavement.

"Broken and damaged paving stones can be a hazard, and, therefore, in the interests of public safety, a temporary bitmac reinstatement was made.

"A permanent repair will be undertaken in due course."