Concerns have been raised over the ‘dangerous’ state of wooden sleepers by a footpath outside a Suffolk town’s social club with a mystery surrounding who is responsible for them.
The sleepers, which were installed more than a decade ago, sit on an elevated verge between Lark Road and Recreation Way, outside Mildenhall Social Club.
West Suffolk councillor Andy Neal, who lives in the town, is unhappy with the condition of the sleepers and had to take action last week to remove a number of visible metal bolts after bits of the sleepers had rotted or fallen away.
Cllr Andy Neal is unhappy with the state of the sleepers outside Mildenhall Social Club. Pictures: Mecha Morton
Cllr Neal said: “It was very dangerous for residents, particularly children, with the metal bolts fully exposed.
“If someone had fallen against it, it could’ve done some serious damage, so I had to remove the bolts.
“As the sleepers continue to rot, it is a big problem, as more and more bolts from the structure are exposed and pose a real danger.
Cllr Neal had to remove a number of metal bolts from the verge
“Something needs to be done.”
A Mildenhall resident said: “Whole areas of the sleeper wall have deteriorated and it makes the footpath look ugly and it is generally unsafe.
“I know my husband and other residents in the town feel the same.”
Residents believe the the bit of land to the side of the Mildenhall Social Club looks ugly
The social club received a quote of £11,000 two months ago at Cllr Neal’s request, to see if West Suffolk Council could provide some funding to whoever is responsible for the sleepers – which Cllr Neal initially believed was the social club.
Howard Sparey, committee member at Mildenhall Social Club, has looked at plans and said the sleepers lie outside the boundary lines of the social club.
“The sleepers are dangerous, unsightly and we are aware of the situation,” he said.
“As the sleepers continue to rot, it is a big problem.”
“I have plans and drawings which show a straight red line outside the sleepers so while this land is in dispute, nothing will happen.”
A Suffolk Highways spokesperson said they are in the process of establishing who is responsible for the sleepers and that they have visited the site to assess the issue.
They added the issue does not meet their intervention criteria and the sleepers do not pose a danger to the public.
West Suffolk Council has been approached for comment.