A PENSIONER is engaged in a frustrating stand-off with his local council which is refusing to remove a fence he says is to blame for three foot high weeds in his street.

Brian Petty claims Darlington Council’s response to the problem in Finchale Crescent, where he lives, is a “disgrace”.

The 78-year-old’s ire is directed towards a fence on the street put in by the local authority to prevent motorists from parking on grass verges.

Mr Petty, who has lived in his for 35 years, explained: “They [the council] put this stupid fencing in to stop people parking on the grass.

“All they had to do was to knock on their doors and say ‘Please don’t park here’. Once they’d put the posts up it was then they realised they cannot cut the grass properly.

“They’ve used weedkiller to try and poison the weeds that have grown as a result and if they strim it they leave all the cuttings in the bloody road. It is a disgrace.

“I pay my council tax and while it is only a council house we live in, I am very proud of it. I wonder whether this would a problem in other areas of Darlington such as Mowden or Blackwell?”

Mr Petty contrasted the scene with that in Bylands Way, around the corner, where verges are grassed and neatly cut.

Asked what he wanted, the pensioner said: “I would like the fence removed and it re-grassed. They could get people on community service to come along and do it.”

A spokeswoman for the council confirmed fencing had been installed some time ago after residents’ concerns about vehicles parking on the verges.

She said: “The fencing was erected as part of works to reduce damage to the verges and allow movement of traffic along the road.

“Additional parking was provided on the opposite side of the road at that time. Therefore we would not consider removing it as this would result in damage to the verge and possible parking problems in the future.”

The spokeswoman added: “A member of staff has been out to the site and confirmed the fencing means we’re unable to gain access with the mowers and the best option would be to use weedkiller.

“However, we have agreed on this occasion to clear it with a strimmer, but this is not a long-term solution as it can cause damage to vehicles parked nearby when debris and stones are dislodged and thrown up.”