A Marlow restaurant has been accused of not “genuinely caring” about the footpath in the High Street after it was blocked by a mountain of rubbish bags from the restaurant.

Resident Tony Rickard fears the rubbish outside The Ivy could force pedestrians off the footpath and on to the road when passing by, and said the rubbish has driven him to walk his dogs on the main road.

In an email to the restaurant seen by the Marlow Free Press, Mr Rickard wrote: “I’ve lived in Marlow for over twenty years and never before have I needed to leave the safety of the pavement due to selfish actions taken on the part of any High Street business. 

“My nearest pedestrian crossing is 100m back up the road, so I invariably walk around the pile of rubbish, putting myself and dogs at risk ref. flow of traffic. [sic]

“Obviously this would equally apply to any pedestrian: mothers pushing buggies, the elderly walking with assistance, mobility scooters, joggers – the list goes on.”

The restaurant’s general assistant manager Samesh Ramjattan replied to Mr Rickard, saying that it had “no other option” but to put the waste out on the street.

He wrote: “I am sorry that our rubbish is causing you issues in the morning. We certainly do not mean to cause any inconvenience to the pedestrians of Marlow.

“Currently, we have no other option but to place our waste in this manner onto the street.

“We are working with our waste remover to provide a more effective solution that does not impact the pavement and it's users as much. Rest assured we will get a solution in place.”

Writing back, Mr Rickard said: “I’ve been left with no confidence that management of The Ivy genuinely care about the pavement being blocked in Marlow High Street and have seen no evidence of corrective action.

“If your intentions were credible, then the rubbish would be stacked along the pavement, leaving enough width for anyone to have safe passage, not across the pavement creating a barrier for pedestrians.

“Furthermore, you claim to have a resolution plan, but you neglect to mention timescales for completion, which ultimately suggest that no accountability has been taken. 

“This lack of responsibility is supported by your statement…which is simply unbelievable. 

“You are stating that The Ivy has no option, but to force pedestrians off the pavement and onto the road when passing your premises.”

A picture from the scene shows a stack of purple rubbish bags and cardboard boxes piled across the footpath in the High Street.

Mr Rickard added: “The Ivy should not assume that it is acceptable to block the pavement at any time, day or night (this action is highly inappropriate) and I’m genuinely surprised that such an establishment has not considered the consequences of its actions, both in respect of personal safety and reputation.”

A spokesman for The Ivy Marlow Garden reassured residents that the issue will be dealt with.

They said: "Since opening The Ivy Marlow Garden earlier this year, all refuse materials produced by the restaurant have been treated as per council guidelines, being set outside at the end of each day to be collected between the hours of 6am and 8am.

"However, as a result of the amount of people visiting each day and the large amount of refuse produced by the restaurant as a result, it has become apparent to us that leaving recycling and rubbish outside overnight is anti-social to our neighbours.

"As such, from Saturday, September 2, all rubbish and recyclables produced by The Ivy Marlow Garden will be kept inside until 6am when a member of staff will arrive and put outside when the collection company arrives.

"The Ivy Marlow Garden is happy to implement this change, above and beyond the requirements of the council guidelines, to ensure that the our neighbours and local residents are in no way inconvenienced by rubbish while it awaits collection."