ANGRY homeowners are calling for action to fix damaged pavements outside their homes.

Families say footpaths in Downey Close, Basildon, have been left in an unsuitable state for more than three years.

Melvin Francis, 81, says he has spoken to the highways department at Essex County Council on several occasions and the issue has not been resolved.

Melvin said: “The pavements in Downey Close are terrible and they have been like it for around three or four years now.

“The company cutting the grass with ride on lawn mowers is to blame. The machines shouldn’t go on the pavements. They are damaging them.

“I have spoken to the council on several occasions and each time it tells me it will look into the issue, but nothing happens.

“My neighbours have spoken to me about it and we are all fed up with it. The council did said last year it would be fixing problems with pavements in a number of streets.

“The work was done in some of the streets, including Clayden Crescent, and it said the next pavements to be fixed were in Downey Close.

“I believe the Echo reported the list of streets where the County Council will fix the problems, but still nothing has been done.”

Last July the Echo reported Essex County Council’s plans to spend £17.5million repairing roads in South Essex, including streets in Basildon, Rochford and Castle Point.

The plans were for the repairs for 140 roads and included the road where Mr Francis lives.

An Essex Highways spokesman said: “We have received reports of pavement defects in Downey Close, Basildon. These have been inspected, assessed and logged for repair as part of our planned maintenance programme.”