Ugly razor wire is a 'dangerous eyesore' in town
Chris Harris, of Holywell Road, said he was concerned to see the intimidating looking razor wire intertwined through five metres of low hedgerow to protect a property which is undergoing development work.
The 52-year-old has complained to Malvern Hills District Council , asking for them to inspect it as he believes it contravenes the Highways Act 1980 which states that barbed wire should not be placed below 2.4 metres as it is ‘usually deemed to be causing a nuisance’.
However, the district council said it was powerless to force the building company to remove the barbwire and could only ask them to remove it.
Mr Harris said: “It’s an eyesore and not only projects an awful visual image on a lovely road but is downright dangerous. It appears so over the top and unnecessary.
“Abbey Road is hardly Beirut and I am certain that the property can be made secure without resorting to razor wire and so close to the public footpath.”
A council spokesman said: “The street scene team will go out and investigate the issue and speak to whoever owns the land and advise them that they are breaching that highway law.
“We have no powers to make them remove the barbwire in question – only to tell them that it is unsafe to passers-by.”
A spokeswoman for Worcestershire County Council said that as the barbed wire was not overhanging the highway it would be an environmental issue and would need to be dealt with by Malvern Hills District Council.
