Residents living on a pothole-ridden road “that no one is responsible for” are being offered help from a variety of sources.
People, some of whom use mobility scooters, along a lane leading to Barnard Castle Cemetery off Victoria Road complain their access road is dangerous because of its sorry state of repair.
Eddie Tinkler, who lives in one of the North Star Housing-owned properties, says some of the holes “are deep enough to swim in”.
He complained that he was told by Durham County Council officers that the lane is privately owned and they could not make repairs.
He said: “I went on Land Registry and it shows it as a lane with no owner. Durham County Council look after the cemetery, so they come down here with all the digging equipment when there is a funeral on. The bin wagon comes down. They are probably the most prolific trade user of the lane.
“We never get the road sweeper, so the leaves sit there. We pay council tax like everybody else, but we don’t get the same services as everybody else.”
Mr Tinkler said he had filled in some potholes last year, but they were soon flushed out by rain.
He added that the track was unsafe for two North Star Housing tenants using mobility scooters, one who uses a Zimmer frame and another who gets around with a walking stick.
Repairs were made to the lane by volunteer group The Workers several years ago.
North Star Housing is aware of the road’s condition and confirmed it had sent a property surveyor to determine its ownership.
Executive director of customers Carole Richardson said: “The access is owned by the Diocese of Newcastle. We have contacted the diocese to establish its intentions.
“North Star is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our customers and will support the church in delivering the [repair] work if that is required.
“Our staff will be visiting the area again this week and will be in contact with North Star tenants to understand if there is any further support we can provide.”
Durham County Council confirmed it was unable to get involved because it is private land.
Highways services manager Paul Watson said: “The access off Victoria Road to the cemetery is privately owned and is not inspected or maintained by the council.
“However, we will continue to offer residents or the landowner road planings from our construction work, which will allow for repairs to be carried out.”
Roger Peat, co-ordinator of The Workers volunteers, offered to help again as a last resort. He said: “If all else fails, I have some road planings that would do the job.”
