The Manx Footpath Conservation Group has called out the lack of maintenance on the island’s footpaths.

David Leiserach, of the group, felt the situation was ’out of control’ as some paths had become ’impassable’ due to lack of maintenance and overgrown vegetation.

He said: ’In previous years we used to get footpaths that we’ve said were difficult to get down, this year we’ve actually been getting some where we can’t see the footpath at all, it’s completely blocked.

’I think the problem is we haven’t had the same number of tourists walking on the footpaths and that’s why it’s become overgrown.

’This year with the hot spell, the vegetation’s gone bananas, it’s grown like fury.’

The Department for Infrastructure, Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture and Manx Utilities all work together to maintain these green spaces.

None of these departments have a duty to inspect the footpaths, despite the fact they have a legal duty to maintain them.

Mr Leiserach added: ’We act as their unofficial eyes to report defects to them and the number of defects is gently on the rise every year.

’Last year we put around 250 footpath defects to them.’

He explained the departments have a priority system for carrying out maintenance.

The conservation group member continued: ’Primarily the big four routes take priority over other footpaths. Some of the more expensive items don’t necessarily get to the top of the list quickly.’

Mr Leiserach doesn’t believe the Covid-19 lockdowns affected this.

’It’s primarily lack of assets in finance and manpower to sort the job out, so the lockdown is not a viable reason,’ he said.

According to the group, one footpath in the Ballamona area wasn’t fixed for eight years until it was closed in 2019 for repairs and is still now being worked on.

’It’s manpower shortage, asset shortage, money shortage,’ Mr Leiserach added.

David Buttery, of Douglas, presented a petition of doleance at Tynwald Day regarding footpaths. He said: ’It’s been getting worse. I have an Airbnb and it’s a bit of an embarrassment, you get customers over here for the finest walking destinations in the British Isles and half of them are overgrown or have broken decking for example, it’s stupid things.’

The 64-year-old suggested in his petition that one agency takes responsibility, rather than three. He added: ’What we need is a single agency, one body responsible if you like.

’They’ve all got different things going on, they’ve got different budgets, different agendas, so it’s very easy for them to say water or the promenade is more important, whereas if you had a single agency and that’s all it does, that could work better.’

Mr Buttery noticed the state of the footpaths while walking and mountain biking around the island.

He said: ’These last 18 months while Covid has been around, I’ve seen more of the Isle of Man than I’ve seen in 60 years. I’ve covered a huge amount of it and a lot of it is in a really bad state.’

The DoI were contacted for comment but had not replied at the time of print.