A RESIDENT has accused Kirklees Council of abandoning his street.
Mark Whitehead is angry about the state of Chapel Lane in Moldgreen.
The self-employed builder has complained dozens of times to Kirklees about problems – including a street light which has been broken since 2006.
Mr Whitehead, 25, said: “I keep on and on at the council but still haven’t got a result. I think Chapel Lane has been forgotten.”
The street light was broken when he bought a house on the road in 2006.
Mr Whitehead, who lives with his girlfriend Edel Fanning, 25, said: “It’s pitch black up that end of the street. My girlfriend feels unsafe coming home at night.
“Cars have been broken into and tyres have been slashed because of the lack of light.”
Mr Whitehead also complained about overgrown trees and bushes on the narrow street near Wakefield Road.
He said: “Cars were struggling to get past and they were scratching our cars parked on the other side of the road. Kirklees said they wouldn’t come and cut back the trees so we had to do it ourselves.”
Mr Whitehead has also complained to the council about the state of the road and pavement.
He said: “The pavement is uneven and in some places non-existent. It’s a trip hazard.
“The council did repair the road but they used the wrong type of tarmac which made a mess.”
Mr Whitehead has sent 15 to 20 emails and made 10 to 15 phone calls to Kirklees to complain about the state of Chapel Lane since 2006.
“Every time I complain I’m told there’s nothing they can do,” he said. “I pay my council tax only to see all the other roads get regenerated.”
A Kirklees spokesman said yesterday that the condition of the road was not the council’s responsibility.
He said: “As Chapel Lane is listed as a private road, its surface condition is the responsibility of the road owners.”
But he added: “Historically some private roads are lit by the council in the interests of public safety and we will investigate the faulty street light.”
