Inadequate care of public footpath

[ruedas15]

There is a footpath behind my house, it borders a small river, despite being in an urban setting the council have refused to place a waste bin although they have placed a bench, a long section of the river bank adjoining the path is completely overgrown and has for years been used for dumping garden waste, even the council's contractors have dumped waste there from time to time. There is an increasing problem of vermin as the overgrown waste filled area makes a perfect nesting ground, I feel that while the river and path at the back of the house are or could be points in favour for a prospective buyer the vermin and rubbish are detrimental to the area. Is there any action that can be taken against a local authority in such cases?

[atticus]

Do you know who owns the land?

[ruedas15]

I think it is the City Council, I am not sure though, I do know that prior to the demolition of the old houses/buildings (1970s) the gardens of the houses went down to the river's edge, after this the housing trust built our homes, some to rent and some affordable (help to buy) so it must be at that time that it was decided to put a path (where there was never a path before), they have tried to make it appear to be part of the Itchen Way footpath but it is not marked on the OS as such and most people who try to follow it get lost because it does not connect with the rest of the path.

[Getitdone]

If you go to your local authority website you might be able to find a map showing all the land they own. If it's anything like our LA's website, sometimes it's easier just to do a Google search eg "map land owned by x council "