The ongoing deadlock between home owners in in Parkend Road, Bream, and the Two Rivers Housing Association over who is responsible for the upkeep of their pavements has resurfaced.

According to Stuart Gray, who has lived in Parkend Road for nearly 20 years Two Rivers have told him and other home owners they will have to chip in towards the cost of repairs.

He said: “Two Rivers has complete ownership of this land and has a moral duty to put this path into good repair and not to put it down to us the residents.”

Mr Gray says he has been told he may have to pay up to £6,000 tpwards the cost of the work.

“It is a disgrace. I don’t have that kind of money. I will have top sell my iouse and move.”

Two Rivers Home Ownership Manager, Jasmine Ellicott, has written to Mr Gray saying he has a maintenance liability for the footpath and must contribute to the costs of repairs.

She said the cost of the work would include geotechnical, topographic and structural surveys, designs and specifications and permission form highways, planning and building control authorities.

Councillor for Bream Richard Leppington has taken up the issue on the resident’s behalf.

“This is an appalling situation,” he said. “Two Rivers are shirking their responsibilities and trying to offload the cost of this work on the residents, many of whom are pensioners and just can’t afford this kind of expenditure.

“I have taken it up with Two Rivers but it’s like hitting your head against a brick wall.”

A spokesman for Two Rivers Housing said: “This work is ongoing and we don’t know what the final costs will be.

“If any of the residents have difficulty paying we can spread it out over a period.”