A KEEN walker says kids and families have been unable to enjoy footpaths and walks across the Dearne during the holidays because they are impassable.
Elaine Kay, 69, says on several occasions she has reported to Rotherham Council that paths in the Wath, West Melton and Brampton areas are overgrown with nettles and weeds.
The former park ranger and assistant at Brampton Ellis school said there isn't a single path in the borough you can walk without being nettled and some of them are as tall as five feet.
Elaine of Brampton Road, West Melton said: "Anybody who has been wanting to walk dogs and their children haven't been able to do that all summer and even before that. "If it was a private person or a farmer they would be fined if they didn't do something about it - why is the council different?" Clare McRoy, the council's rights of way officer, said: "This year we are faced with a backlog of cutting work because of the highly favourable growing conditions. "Mrs Kay has already let us know about overgrown footpaths in this part of the borough and we are currently re-scheduling the cutting programme to try to deal with the issue as soon as possible."
