Residents affected by Rushden Greenway anti-social behaviour meet with council but still 'no forthcoming commitment' towards solution

People living in Paddocks Road, Rushden started experiencing issues with anti-social behaviour on the Greenway, a popular walking route connecting the town centre to Washbrook Road with metal fencing separating their gardens being repeatedly damaged.

In most cases, the damage has meant the fencing has been completely broken, with no secure barrier between the Greenway and residents’ gardens.

After a recent meeting with Cllr Chris McGiffen from North Northants Council, one affected resident, who did not wish to be identified, said: “We felt that all parties came away with a better understanding of the situation the property owners have, and still are, having to face.

"However, both the councillor and engineer are to discuss any available options that may be available to prevent further vandalism.

“However there is no forthcoming commitment to any particular solution (if indeed any) nor if the council is to bear any financial burden.”

Further damage to the fence was reported on the evening of March 13, with problems still persisting.

The meeting on March 26 was attended by Cllr Chris McGiffen, NNC’s executive member for highways and travel, an engineer from Northants Highways and representatives from the MP’s office.

While the meeting was deemed productive, ‘no forthcoming commitment’ was made by the council, with those affected still left without adequate security to their gardens which back onto the public footpath.

Residents had been told by North Northants Council, who say they ‘understand the significant distress’ residents face, that their solution would be to allow the nearby vegetation to ‘grow out to form a thicker, natural barrier’, however residents do not feel this is enough and the option was said to ‘not be a sufficient deterrent.’

In a Facebook post on Tuesday (April 7) Gen Kitchen, MP for Wellingborough and Rushden, said: “For several months my office has been working with the residents of two properties that back on to the Greenway in Rushden.

"Both families have lived in their homes for decades but in recent years they have been the targets of repeated anti-social behaviour. This is causing them deep distress and has come at a significant financial cost.

“I'm grateful to the local police who have increased patrols in the area and also to Cllr Chris McGiffen for agreeing to visit the properties with my team to see the issue for himself.

“I have repeatedly asked North Northants Council to install some form of barrier between the garden fences and the Greenway to help prevent these attacks and am hopeful that we may now be a step closer to achieving this.”

North Northants Council and Cllr McGiffen have been contacted by the Northants Telegraph for comment twice, however no comment has yet been made.