Council and volunteers clash over 'petty' gate row

Frank Moore and Paul Rowley with one of the new council-installed gates

A group of volunteers in a Worcestershire village has labelled the county council as "petty" in a row over a gate.

Ashton Footpath Maintenance Group installed a gate six months ago to make a walking route in Ashton-under-Hill more attractive.

However, on 6 February, Worcestershire County Council removed the gate in favour of two gates of its own.

A Worcestershire County Council spokesperson said the first gate had been installed in the "wrong position".

They said: “This gate was installed in the wrong position, and this has now been rectified."

However, Frank Moore and Paul Rowley, of Ashton Footpath Maintenance Group, accused the local authority of trampling over their work at public expense, only to do a worse job.

Mr Rowley told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "I feel irritated that the council are happy to waste time and our money being petty.

"For some reason the council decided it was far better to waste money putting in fairly badly-fitted gates into a sheep field rather than leaving the access route from the cricket pitch where it has been for living memory."

Ashton Footpath Maintenance Group with the first gate which has now been filled in with planks of wood

The volunteer group has been maintaining footpaths and walking routes for 28 years, free of charge.

The group fitted its gate in May last year to replace an old stile but contractors were brought in last week to remove it and fill in the gap with planks of wood.

Two new gates were then fitted a few metres down the track.

Mr Moore said one gate does not close properly and the other is not secure.

"It is just a cheap and nasty job," he told BBC Hereford & Worcester, before adding: "It is pedantic, silly and officious."

A council spokesperson said an inspection and any necessary repairs would be carried out to the new gates.

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