A fed-up Askett resident says garden plants on a village grass verge are forcing pedestrians into a road where hundreds of vehicles pass every day. 

Suzanne Jeffs is annoyed that her path is blocked by plants and hedges that have been planted on a grass verge when she is walking along Askett Lane. 

Various parts of Askett do not have pavements, instead pedestrians either have to walk on the grass verge or in the road. 

Mrs Jeffs had assumed the verge in question, which is outside a private house and is covered with hedges and plants on Askett Lane, was privately owned, but she says her research has found it actually comes under Transport for Buckinghamshire's (TfB) remit. 

She says it is their responsibility to make sure the verge is clear to walk on, otherwise residents have to "put themselves at risk" by walking in the road instead. 

But Mrs Jeffs said she was "appalled" that TfB did not think it was in the public interest to remove the plants. 

Mrs Jeffs said: “It is very difficult to understand why TfB do not consider public safety to be in the public interest.

"You have schoolchildren, families with children and pushchairs, dog walkers and anyone that wishes to walk through Askett being forced to put themselves at risk by walking on the road. This is unreasonable.

"I also understand there is an argument for planting on some verges but when there are no footpaths in the village, the verges are the footpaths.

"In this particular spot there is not even a verge on the other side to use.

"Apart from that, obstructing a public highway is an offence and TfB are obligated by statute to keep all parts of the highway clear so the public can access public land.

"I really don’t understand why TfB are re-interpreting laws that have been made quite clear by Parliament. Perhaps this is the effect of working from home, it’s incomprehensible."

Cllr Steve Broadbent, the cabinet member for transport at Bucks Council, disagrees that there is a problem in the area in question. 

He said: “We have been in correspondence with the resident over their concerns. A crew member visited the site yesterday (Tuesday) and we can confirm that there is a clear passage for people to walk safely without needing to walk in the road.

"The area in question has a space of well over a metre between bushes for people to walk. This is the only section where walking is possible on the verge.

"It has always been the case that you need to walk on the road to get to the pub or post box, this has not changed due to overgrowing vegetation.

"Safety is a priority and where vegetation is causing a danger to pedestrians and motorists we will take action.”