Autistic teen praised for clearing dangerous overgrown path

A teenage cyclist has won praise for clearing a dangerously overgrown stretch of pavement in Falkirk.

Kai Kallus, 13, decided to take action when he found overgrown trees and bushes were forcing pedestrians to step onto the road at a blind bend on the busy B805, where it passes Westquarter Glen.

The young teenager, who has autism, uses the route regularly to cycle from his home in Redding to his gran’s house in Laurieston.

However, in recent weeks he had been finding it increasingly difficult.

Dad Cris said: “At a certain point in the path it was impossible to see past the trees – you would need to step out onto the road on a blind corner and hope for the best.”

Last week – after Kai got a scare when he almost fell onto the road – he decided enough was enough.

Cris said: “He just came home and said ‘let’s just go and cut it’ – so he did.

“It wasn’t just for him, it was also for people with buggies and wheelchairs or mobility scooters who were unable to use the path.”

Cris, who is himself a keen cyclist, explained he and Kai often cycle together and where possible they always use the roads, but for safety reasons he has told Kai to use the pavement when he’s on his own.

“I know that he’ll use his common sense and stop when there are pedestrians or people with buggies and get off his bike,” said Cris.

Neighbours reportedly spoke to Kai while he worked and said that they had reported the problem to Falkirk Council, but nothing had been done and praised him for making such a difference.

After Cris proudly posted about his son’s efforts on Facebook, lots more were quick to praise the teen, although Cris says he was shocked to hear how many people were facing similar problems around the district.

He added: “It’s great because everybody moans about things but if we all just took ten or 20 minutes, like Kai did, then it would be for the benefit of all the community.”

Allan Nimmo, Labour councillor for the Lower Braes, said: “The lack of grounds maintenance is clearly a massive issue and I have had numerous complaints from constituents about it.

“I think that Covid is probably still having an impact, but I also think that budget cuts are having a massive impact.

“Grounds maintenance is only a small part – but it’s a part the public can see isn’t getting done.”

Falkirk Council declined to comment.

By local democracy reporter Kirsty Paterson