A GROUP of concerned residents feel the deteriorating condition of the path outside their home is becoming dangerous.

Residents of Witham Road, Black Notley, reported the crumbling pathway to Essex Highways in February, it was marked as needing repair in March, but it has been classified as a low priority.

Anne Sutton, 69, a resident of Witham Road, said: “I have had to call the ambulance out a couple of times recently for my husband.

“The emergency services have complained about it being dangerous because if we have a chair or a stretcher you have to be extremely careful.

“The other night I had to guide the paramedics down the road with a torch as there are no street lights late at night. One nearly tripped on it and just managed to stay on his feet. It gets so dark along here because the tree blocks the light.”

Mrs Sutton’s husband David, 73, is classed as disabled walks uses a stick to walk and the path has become so bad he can no longer use his walking frame if he chooses to walk in that direction.

Mrs Sutton said: “It is really starting to seriously worry me. There are some tree roots growing amongst it.

“If something is constantly used like this I can’t understand how it has been classed as a low priority.”

John Mcaleavey, 65, another resident of Witham Road, said he and his wife avoiding walking anywhere near that section of path.

He said: “It is getting worse and worse as days go by. My wife and I are disabled and we do not like going out that way and it is stopping us going out walking.

“The tree roots underneath are starting to damage our property as well. We are not asking for much just for them to maintain what they have got.”

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: “We are aware of this issue and it has been logged for repair in accordance with our usual schedules.

“It will be monitored regularly to check that it’s not becoming a more significant risk.”