Fixed
Unsafe fence between Public and Private space along Malago River
Reported via desktop in the Wall/Fence/Gate damage category anonymously at 12:51, Tue 28 February 2023
Sent to Bristol City Council less than a minute later. FixMyStreet ref: 4270580.
I live in an end of terrace property on Marksbury Road that the Malago River runs along side of. The property also backs onto a small park and Broad Plain RFC ground. This leaves it more subject to the nature around the property being on the corner by the river and park.
4 years ago the hedgerow and vegetation on the riverside of the fence grew so unmaintained that it forced the garden fence inwards which consequently fell flat into the garden The roots pulled the fence around the side and back of the property out giving access.
I contacted the local council warning about the fence and the overgrown foliage prior to it falling and had no response. After 5-6 weeks once it had completely fallen I had no choice but to prop up the fence temporarily with some wooden beams fixed into the garden ground.
I followed up with another email pleading for something to be done. It is a 7ft fence that runs along 25m of the property which according to the title deeds would be under the councils responsibility.
I was then told that nothing could be done because it was bird nesting season (1st March - 31st August) even though my initial communication was before this. The council then said that they would come by in Autumn to cut back the hedge.
Autumn passed and nothing was done, no visits and no communication. I emailed to follow up to which I received a reply saying that they had come to cut back the hedge but couldn’t gain access, and that the hedge cutters needed to go through the property. Unaware, had I have been contacted of course they could have come through the property to do this.
2 years later in 2021 I emailed the council again and again had no reply. All the while the fence beams temporarily put in place remain propping the fence up.
It's not my responsibility to maintain the foliage along the river and should be overseen by the council.
In January 2023 I contacted once more and included a local Bedminster Labour Party councillor. It’s been over a month since contacting and I’ve had no response.
This weekend just gone I had close family visiting with my niece who's only just walking. She was out in the garden and nearly escaped through the fence and down the bank into the river given the steep drop.
I can’t go on any longer without having this fence fixed/replaced. The work involves cutting back the foliage and replacing the fence along the river, all which can be done with the access that I’ve granted through my property. Or at the very least the fence needs to be replaced as a matter of urgency.
Since it’s March 1st tomorrow and once again bird nesting season begins. I’m seriously fed up of being ignored. I’m a member of the local community that has patiently raised concerns over the Bristol Council and parks maintenance of this area in Bedminster for 5 years.
It’s evident to me given the state of this river (see attached) that little is being done to look after the image of this area. I’m appalled that I’ve continually been ignored as a community member and taxpayer having raised this issue on several occasions with the council.
I am desperately trying to keep myself and family safe through maintaining the security of the property. I continue to be concerned about the security of this fence and the proximity of the river by it when nothing is being maintained, particularly now that young children are at risk.
Updates
This report is now closed to updates from the public. You can make a new report in the same location. Please reference 4270580 in your new report if it is an update on this one.