RESIDENTS have raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of a well‑used pathway in Newton-le-Willows - branding its condition as "awful and dangerous".
Plagued by fly-tipping, litter, graffiti and pipes protruding from the ground, residents say the route has been neglected.
The pathway runs behind properties on Acorn Street, continuing straight ahead towards a low railway bridge.
From there, a left turn leads pedestrians under the railway line through a narrow tunnel, which residents say has become an eyesore.
Beyond the tunnel, the route passes allotments on the left before reaching a nearby school.
The path then forks, with the right‑hand option leading towards Mesnes Park.
The route forms part of a regular walking commute for schoolchildren and families, and residents say "nothing" has been done about its deterioration in recent years.
Those living nearby say the path has become blighted by extensive fly‑tipping and litter, with discarded household waste and debris accumulating along the edges.
Graffiti on neighbouring walls and fences has added to what residents say is an increasingly rundown environment, while overgrown vegetation has made parts of the walkway difficult to navigate.
Resident Steven Ford said one "dangerous" feature is the presence of protruding pipes emerging from the ground, which he fears could pose a hazard to anyone using the route.
"It is not very nice, it is full of rubbish and it's dangerous," said Steven, 53, who lives nearby and walks his dog on the path.
"It's just an absolute nightmare, the place is awful.
"People that live there must be going through the roof with the graffiti on the wall.
"People have been dropping rubbish, there are no bins as well."
Residents say the area has been left in a poor and unsafe condition for three years and are calling for urgent maintenance, investment, and a clear plan to bring the walkway back to an acceptable standard.
"I have been reporting this for three years and nothing is getting done.
"The council tax has gone up through the roof and I am just wondering where my money is going, what I'm paying for.
"It just needs a revamp, it needs someone to come and spend some money on it."
When contacted about this by the Star, a St Helens Borough Council spokesperson said: “The issues reported by residents cross over a number of different organisations and we will look to liaise with them about where they have responsibilities for them to address.
"We have however sent our teams out to the area who will look to address issues such as littering and maintenance where we can.
"We all play a role too in looking after our communities and want to make clear that vandalism and fly-tipping are issues that no one should have to face, and costs the council considerable amounts of money for the council and its partners to clear up every year.
“Anyone who has concerns about their area or has information or reports of such issues please do so through Report it - St Helens Borough Council”.
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