CALLS to fill in a controversial pathway in Longbarn have increased after a resident had their car vandalised by a concrete block from the passage.

Residents have had long-time complaints over the footpath linking Blackburne Close to Woolston Grange Avenue, which replaced the Pink Bridge in 2014.

The path has been subject to constant vandalism since its installation and residents have expressed concerns that broken chunks of the concrete could be used to vandalise neighbouring houses and their vehicles.

Cheryl Hoddell has lived on Blackburne Close for three years and has three young children – now she has had her car damaged by a vandal who threw a block of concrete from the vandalised path at it.

She said: “I went out to the car and saw a chunk of concrete close to it and when I looked closer I noticed the concrete had hit the car.

“The car was scratched but it could easily have done more damage if it had hit a window.

“The council have been contacted numerous times to clean it up and they haven’t done – there is debris all over the pathway and it just looks a mess.

“We haven’t had any problems before now but it’s a concern that chunks of concrete are just lying around – we’re worried about the damage to property and I’m not happy at all.”

Geoff Orange, chairman of the Longbarn Residents Association, has long called for the path to be filled in and says a petition on the matter has been ignored by the council.

He said: “The inevitable has of course happened – a person who has already vandalised the concrete panels has done what we have been saying was likely to happen.

“A piece of the concrete, left on the footpath due to the total inactivity of Warrington Borough Council, has been thrown over a resident’s hedge and hit their car.

“Warrington Borough Council have not removed the broken panels as they said they would do quite a while ago?

“What is to happen next?

“Why is it that Warrington Borough Council and its members and officers will not listen to the residents who are asking for something to be done about this path?

“Residents are fearful that the next piece of concrete will damage a car windscreen or perhaps the front window of a house or bungalow.”

David Boyer, Warrington Borough COuncil's assistant director for transport and environment, said: "Council officers ahve carried out extensive work to try and find a solution to address concerns associated with the shared footpath and cycleway link from Blackburne Close to Woolston Grange Avenue.

"A series of surveys were carried out after a request to close the footpath altogether - the surveys revealed however that the footpath was well-used and forms an essential route for commuters and schoolchildren.

"It is therefore proposed to maintain the route to encourage active travel to work and school for the local community.

"Due to reoccuring damage to the original concrete fence panels, wooden fence panels were erected as a trial on the request of ward councillors - however these have deteriorated and are not seen to be a suitable alternative for this location.

"In view of the recent concerns raised we have visited the site and made the area safe, removing any damaged panels.

"The issue will be discussed with the executive member for highways, transportation and public realm and local elected members with a view to further information being issued to local residents in the early summer detailing our future intentions."