Residents have growing fears (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Residents have growing fears

Concerned resident David Locke. Ref: 78949-70TALL trees that have completely blocked out the streetlights in a Toothill road have left residents afraid of leaving their houses at night without a torch.

Residents of Kirkstall Close first complained about the 25ft oak trees to the council in 2000 and asked for them to maintain them like they used to.

But they claim they are put on a a waiting list and never seem to reach to top.

They say they got the same excuse when they contacted former Swindon South MP Julia Drown about the problem.

Now David Locke, 27, who lives down the street, is becoming tired of waiting.

He said: "We're getting fed up with it.

"I've lost track of how many times I've reported the issue this year.

"It's upsetting how they don't want to listen to you.

"It's dangerous you can't see anything at all.

"I'm surprised somebody hasn't hurt themselves because it gets so dark in the road."

Earlier this year, the road was dug up for repair works and Mr Locke was concerned that someone might accidentally fall or drive down the holes.

He said he sometimes has to park in another road, away from his house, because he is concerned other drivers would not see his car.

He is also fearful that people may become easy targets for attackers.

He said: "People won't walk down here at night."

Mr Locke said he was disturbed one night by drunken revellers who were near his house, but when he looked outside he could not see them or tell where they were.

These problems are bound to get worse as autumn approaches and the nights continue to draw in.

But Mr Locke and other locals do not want the trees to be completely taken away.

They just want the council to prune them away from the lampposts and begin managing them at a reasonable height.

Local councillor Mary Martin (Con, Toothill and Westlea) said the situation seemed "completely incomprehensible".

"It's quite simply ludicrous if you go to the trouble of illuminating trees, wasting electricity.

"It's something that needs to be chased up.

"It'll be interesting to see the reason why they haven't been cut whether it's simple or whether it's something more complicated than that."