Council goes back on Waterfoot mum's driveway promise (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Council goes back on Waterfoot mum's driveway promise

9:40am Thursday 15th December 2011 in Waterfoot By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

A MUM-OF-TWO is facing a struggle to park after she was promised a new driveway when work started on a new pedestrian crossing outside her house.

Jemanie Dixon, 37, who has two children aged two and 14, was told by Lancashire County Council they would install a new driveway when plans were announced to build a new ‘puffin’ crossing outside her house.

The crossing, which had to be installed as part of the new Waterfoot County Primary School, will put zig-zag lines outside Mrs Dixon’s house in Booth Road and prevent her from parking near her property.

She said: “When this crossing was announced I complained because it would leave with me with nowhere to park.

“At that stage the county council said they would create a driveway on some land at the side of my house.

“It has been going on for 18 months and a couple of weeks ago I was told that the decision to build the crossing and driveway was being finalised.

“Then at the start of the week they started work on the crossing, I rang the county council and they said that the crossing had gone through but they couldn’t do the driveway now.

“They have been promising me this for 18 months and have now broken that promise.”

The county council has apologised to Mrs Dixon.

Phil Barrett, director of environment and public protection services, said: “I'm sorry that Mrs Dixon was told that the county council could fund the cost of a driveway at her home, but this was a mistake and we will not be able to fund the cost of such improvements on private property.

“However, if Mrs Dixon confirms that she will be installing a drive then we will carry out our proposed kerb and footway works so that Mrs Dixon can access her property by car.”

County Coun Jimmy Eaton, who has been fighting Mrs Dixon’s cause, said: “I feel let down by Lancashire County Council that this work hasn’t gone ahead.

“They had promised to do it and Mrs Dixon was under the impression it would go ahead.”