'The council either needs to act on this wall or close the footpath completely'

FEARS THAT ANOTHER STRETCH IS ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSING ALTOGETHER

- By OSCAR FISHER

A DERBY councillor says he shares the frustration of locals as a fallen wall - believed to be decades, if not a century old - continues to block a footpath near a busy road.

People first noticed the stone wall, which sits at the bottom of a small hill to the south of A52 Ashbourne Road in Mackworth, near the junction with Prince Charles Avenue, had fallen on November 12, after a period of heavy rain.

The route is used by dog walkers accessing Markeaton Park and people boarding buses at the nearby bus stops, and is believed to be causing particular trouble for those in wheelchairs and with prams, due to the positioning of drop kerbs on the A52.

Mackworth and New Zealand councillor Guarav Pandey wrote to Derby City Council shortly after the wall had fallen, but says he was told repairs “could take months”.

“The council has told me they are still trying to find out how much it will cost to repair, and it will clearly be a complex job due to the age of the wall and the damage caused.”

Cllr Pandey also noted that the remaining stretch of the wall is leaning heavily, with all signs pointing towards a full-blown collapse, which could be dangerous if the area isn’t closed off.