From Bernie Webster, Crabtree Lane, Burscough

After spending most of the last five and a half weeks on my hands and knees cleaning the mud from my home following the flood on August 11th, I thought I would have a break.

They say a change is as good as a rest, so today I diverted my attention to another of our Authorities neglected responsibilities, our overgrown footpaths in Burscough.

Last year, following many complaints from passing ramblers and local walkers about the overgrown footpath from Burscough Station through to Crabtree Lane, I started trying to encourage LCC to come and clear it as I believe it is their responsibility.

I logged a complaint on their website for footpaths, having noted there had already been one complaint. Once my complaint was logged, the other complaint disappeared from the site so it appears no matter how many people complain, they will only get to see the previous complaint and never get to find out just how many complaints they have already ignored.

Genius, I bet someone got a promotion for thinking that one up, keeping the facts and the truth from the public.

Anyway, after banging my head against a brick wall and getting nowhere, I cleared it myself. It took eight and a half hours of hard graft. The next day, two unrelated people called at my home to shake my hand they were that grateful; it's good to feel appreciated.

For the rest of the year, I don’t believe anyone else maintained this path, so come early summer this year, it was overgrown again. I cut it back then and did it again today. It is tough work; today took five and a half hours as it measures just short of a kilometre by two meters wide.

To the best of my knowledge, Lancashire County Council have not maintained this footpath for at least five years.

So, here are some questions:

Why is Burscough so neglected when it comes to maintenance of the footpaths, the maintenance of the drainage systems including the watercourses which are not kept in the way they were designed to function, and the sewers that regularly overflow on the main road through Burscough covering pedestrians with raw sewage after heavy rain as cars pass by?

Why, when our council tax is increasing, are our services being constantly run down to the point of failure. The authorities complain about staff reductions and shortages, so this should mean a reduced payroll, so where is all that extra money going?

Burscough has the greatest amount of development which brings in £millions, not only to the Council, but it has to be said United Utilities benefit handsomely from the development as well - yet they can’t bring themselves to spend this money in Burscough. It seems we only exist to be exploited. Burscough is seen as a place to make money but give nothing back.

Well, this is our home, and although some within the authorities can not be shamed into doing what they are paid for because their number one priority is protecting their budget, many of us who live here care about our environment and take pride in where we live. It is a shame the authorities have no pride in Burscough.

So, around 1km of footpath cleared. No help - and no thanks - to and from Lancashire County Council.