- Sutton footpath EE427 upgraded to bridleway status by Inspector
Following a study of submissions made to the Planning Inspectorate, the Inspector decided that “on the balance of probabilities” footpath EE427 should have been recorded as a bridleway and confirmed the upgrading order. It runs from just SW of Sutton village through to the Ripple-Martin road near Winkland Oaks at GR 342 482, and is indeed a track for much of its way. After crossing this road, the route becomes EE451 (part of which is Hangman’s Lane), which itself was upgraded from footpath to bridleway last year. Another successful Hugh Craddock claim.
2. Goodnestone bridleway EE269 – claimed upgrade to restricted byway
The next of Hugh Craddock’s claims for consideration involves the whole length of this bridleway, from Goodnestone Road/Cave Lane in the north (GR 256 555) to the junction of the Adisham and Ratling roads in the south (GR 251 539). As the bridleway immediately to the north of this route (EE269A) is itself currently the subject of a similar upgrading order, this was not an entirely unexpected move by Mr.C.
NB An upgrade from bridleway to restricted byway means that in addition to walkers, cyclists and horse riders, horse-drawn vehicles (but definitely not motorised vehicles), may use the route.
3. More Local Development
The headlines this month concern official planning applications lodged with Dover DC for:
- Bettshanger Country Park: The hotel (DDC planning ref 22/01152) and “surfing lagoon” (22/01158) against which Chris Packham has now weighed in. It will undeniably change the “feel” of the place, however online representations are apparently only 60/40 against the projects.
- Waldershare Deer Park: where a very large enclosure (ref 22/01657) would affect both bridleway ER97 and footpath ER96 (the NDW). However KCC PROW appear satisfied with the arrangements for any necessary gates, and envisage no real problems for users.
4. That sinkhole – near Northbourne
You may well have seen on our Facebook pages about the sinkhole that suddenly appeared in a field off Northbourne Road between there and Mongeham in late January. Not perhaps that deep, but still a real hazard. Now has a vehicle tyre around it, I’m told, but luckily not on an actual PROW. Not the sort of thing you expect to see in our part of Kent!
For more details of these and any other PROW issues, please contact Roger King on 01304 362730, or by email at roger.rambler89@outlook.com
