Several cycling and pedestrian routes around Watford have become almost “impassable” because of overhanging trees and vegetation.

That is according to two Hertfordshire County Council Liberal Democrat councillors, who claim the council has "not been paying enough attention” to cycling and pedestrian routes around the borough.

Both Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Hertfordshire Liberal Democrat leader, and Cllr Tim Williams say they cycled on "blocked" routes along the A41 (Northwestern Avenue), Radlett Road and the cycle route along the A405 towards Bricket Wood.

Cllr Phil Bibby, Executive Member for Highways and the Environment, has confirmed that the council will be getting £11 million funding from the Department for Transport – and that part of the money would be used to maintain pathways and remove overhanging vegetation.

He said that work to cut back vegetation on the A41, A405 and Radlett Road is planned to take place for the financial year.

But Cllr Giles-Medhurst said he warned senior officers at the council of the problem when the lockdown started in March, but that “nothing was done”.

Watford Observer:

A route blocked on the A405 towards Bricket Wood (photo Stephen Giles Medhurst)

He claimed the ability to cycle and walk and continue social distancing is being “undermined” by the council’s “failure to act on keen black spots where paths and cycle routes are overgrown or even now totally impassable”.

He continued: "We told them (senior officers) that with lockdown now was the chance to do something, get in there and do the work to cut back bushes and trees before lockdown eased. That was in March and nothing was done."

"I suggested phased closures if some designed cycle routes and key paths allow for this to be done, but it seems thus fell on deaf ears. So far not a single route I raised at the end of March or the start of April has been done."

Watford Observer:

The route on Radlett Road (photo Stephen Giles Medhurst)

Woodside Stanborough Cllr Tim Williams added that he received complaints from people at the beginning of April that the A41 path was “unusable”.

He said: “Only after considerable pressure has finally the county council has accepted some routes such as the path along the A41 (Northwestern Avenue) where the path is almost impassable will be looked at and may be cut back, but has given no time frame. It took two months of complaining - it should not be like this."

However, Cllr Bibby said that the council knew about the problem of overhanging vegetation, but that “not every issue can be fixed overnight”.

He said: “In some cases the vegetation isn’t even ours and is privately owned, so we can’t go and cut it down.

“We knew about the problem, but we'll first work on the sites that have the most impact.

"It’s also a case of prioritising the funding that we get as to when we carry out the work. It's planned for the financial year on the routes highlighted."

He added that the “majority” of the £11 million worth of funding coming to the council will be spent on improving cycle ways across the county, with the money also being spent on improving subways, fixing gullies and fixing problems on rural roads.