Action plea to tackle flooding on Much Wenlock art trail
A keen walker is calling for a footpath to be restored after poor drainage and months of rain left it inaccessible.
Trevor Childs said the path, which formed part of a £40,000 art trail in Much Wenlock, could no longer be used due to huge puddles.
Mr Childs, 65, said it was a waste of money and time for walkers not to be able to use the path.
He said: "The path runs from the Gaskell Fields and is the main entrance that leads up to the lodge, towards a building known locally as the 'ice-cream cone'.
"Since the heavy rain about three months ago it has become flooded.
"The problem seems to have occurred after the old railway line was resurfaced, which forms part of the path.
"The gravel appears to have blocked the drainage system with sediment."
Mr Childs said the footpath was now inaccessible for all walkers, including potential tourists.
He said: "It's not fit to walk down and certainly not fit for wheelchair access.
"It's potentially putting off visitors to the area who would usually use the path to see different parts of Much Wenlock.
"The signage for the walkway was originally put the wrong way round at the top of the path, but has since been moved to the bottom of the bank."
The walk forms part of the Much Wenlock Public Art Trail, featuring work by artists Clare Woods and Michael Johnson.
Displays are sited at William Brookes School, Windmill Hill and around the edge of Gaskell Field.
The work was commissioned by the William Penny Brookes Foundation for the people of Much Wenlock to celebrate the town's heritage and to commemorate the values and inspiration that led to the London 2012 Olympics.
Mr Childs, who walks areas of Much Wenlock on a daily basis, said: "The walk should be well used but we do not see many visitors using it.
"The council spent a lot of money resurfacing it but something needs to be done to sort the drainage problems out.
"We have complained to local councillors but no one seems to be taking any notice."
A Shropshire Council spokesman said: "We appreciate that a lot of footpaths are suffering at the moment due to the very wet winter and summer of 2012.
"We will investigate this particular problem and, although it is quite likely it will be simply a matter of waiting for the water table to recede, we will see if there is anything that can be done to improve the situation."
