Path Dubbed ‘Britain’s Most Pointless Footpath’ Is Just 40cm Wide
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We've all splurged our hard-earned cash on useless things in the past, whether it's a top you bought in the sales that you'll never wear or a bunch of cat toys that your pet has absolutely zero interest in.
But locals in Felixstowe, Suffolk, have slammed a housing company for its bizarre decision to construct what they've dubbed 'Britain's Most Pointless Footpath' - measuring just 40cm wide.
The path - which is just wide enough to fit both feet on - has been built on a housing development built by Barratt Homes, and has been ridiculed by residents for its 'utterly ridiculous' size.
It's even been referred to as 'one of things police make you walk along to check whether you're drunk', with local resident Ken Knights saying there is 'actually no safe way to leave your home unless you drive'.
The path, built by Barratt Homes, has been positioned on either side of a road in the Walton Gate development.
Elvita Branch, from Felixstowe, Suffolk said: "This is Britain's most pointless pathway.
"The pathways is just for one person to walk on, no way two people could walk on it or either a mother pushing her pram."
Developers have said the strange strips were not actually designed as walkways, but to instead house utility services along their lengths.
But that's not stopped residents taking to social media to express their thoughts and question the 'pointless' design
A photo of the path was posted on the FelixstoweNews Facebook page, with the hashtag #pathgate.
Thecaption asked: "When is a path not a path?"
Tessa Aston wrote: "Ridiculous! Really pedestrian friendly- maybe it's enforced tightrope walking training!?"
Angela Ashford also commented : "That's not a path at all, it's a wide curb... dangerous for any users...once the hedge has grown it will be non existent...quite pathetic."
Lynn Morrissey also described it as 'Ridiculous, no brains'.
The house building firm said most of the roads on the 190-property Walton Gate development did have footpaths for pedestrian use.
A spokesperson for Barratt Homes Eastern Counties said: "Service margins are installed for Shared Surface Roads, where footpaths are not required in line with the Suffolk Design Guide for Residential Areas.
"We have designed and constructed the roads at Walton Gate in line with Suffolk Highways Estate Road Specifications and they have been vetted and approved by Suffolk Highways, who will be adopting the road network once the development is complete."
