'Get a shovel' Frail WW2 hero and pensioner told by council to fill in potholes HIMSELF

A SECOND World War hero and pensioner was told by council bosses to "get a shovel" after he complained about potholes that left his home flooded.

A pensioner by a muddy roadESSEX CHRONICLE

A frail pensioner was told by his local council to fix potholes on a nearby road himself

Ken Walker, 87, gets out of breath at the slights exertion as he suffers from lung cancer and asked for help to repair the badly-pitted Ludgores Lane.

The frail widower, who put his life on the line during the Second World War, was handed gravel and hardcore by his county council despite his health.

Mr Walker said: "The council could not care less.

"It's just getting silly...we are paying their wages and they're doing nothing."

An Essex Highways inspector had visited the road outside the war hero's home in Danbury, Essex.

However, they said it was the pensioner's job to repair the potholes.

Pensioner Ken WalkerESSEX CHRONICLE

War hero Ken Walker gets out of breath at the slights exertion

It's just getting silly...we are paying their wages and they're doing nothing

Ken Walker

Despite his medical problems including a degenerative back condition, all they did was supply him with DIY materials to fill in the craters where water collects in heavy rain.

Mr Walker said: "I can't really do a lot without getting out of breath.

"If I do the ironing, I can do one shirt and then I have to sit down and have a break.

"When they told me I had to do it myself, I just said 'you must be joking'.

"I couldn't believe it."

The pensioner found a neighbour to fill in the holes, but they washed out again.

On four separate occasions Mr Walker's garage has flooded, which has damaged garden machinery stored inside.

The council says it doesn't have to fix the lane because it is classed as a bridleway.

The pensioner said this should not be a factor and the council should take account of people's needs, specially when they are elderly and infirm.

A picture of a shovelGETTY

Ken Walker was handed gravel and hardcore by his council to fix the potholes

He said: "It is all down to the inefficiency of our system.

"I have had enough of it - I have been here for 30 years and as you would imagine, the constant damage to my property is causing me considerable stress, which is making me ill."

Mr Walker, a former Marconi engineer, has repeatedly contacted Essex County Council over the past year.

His cottage has been at risk of being submerged whenever there is heavy rainfall.

While permission for a luxury five-bedroom house in nearby Horne Row has worsened the problem with large lorries further damaging the road surface.

In a letter to Councillor Rodney Bass, head of highways and transportation at the council, Mr Walker suggested a number of measures to improve his plight.

This included a 20mph speed limit, banning lorries from the lane and repairing the road surface to a decent standard.

However, his pleas so far have fallen on deaf ears/

Councillor Eddie Johnson, cabinet member for highways maintenance and small schemes delivery, said: "We are responsible for maintaining Ludgores Lane to bridleway standard - ie for use by walkers, cyclists and horse riders and it is currently maintained to that standard."

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