- Barham byway open to all traffic CB552 – creation order made
Just over our borders, in the far south-west of Barham parish….
This claim was originally rejected by KCC, but the applicant appealed to the Planning Inspectorate and was successful.
This existing track runs from Dane Hill Road at Dane Farm (GR176 478), north-westwards for some 300 yards to its junction with Peafield Wood Road at GR 174 480.
- St Margaret’s – claim of a short length of new footpath – evidence sought
I was contacted very recently by a local resident to inform me that the Parish Council is seeking to obtain public right of way status for a short connecting path which is not on the Definitive Map, and which might even be an unclassified road, as older maps suggest this could possibly be the case. There may be other local issues here as well, but basically the 30 yard link in question runs from the southern terminus of footpath ER275 at GR 360 450 through to the cul-de-sac end of The Avenue.
This link to the Parish Council website gives more details:
https://www.stmargaretspc.co.uk/claim-footpath-between-end-of-the-avenue-and-er275
Development proposals affecting PROW:
- Minster Marshes Electrical Converter station – formal application submitted by the National Grid
Formal plans for this huge development, whose buildings will tower some 100 feet above the marshes, have just been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by the National Grid. This is the first stage of the process which could lead to this part of the Sea Link project being built. Although no PROW would be directly affected, the character of this wetland area would be significantly changed.
More details at : https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2025/03/27/national-grid-submits-development-consent-application-for-proposed-sea-link-project/
- Great Mongeham proposed housing – formal appeal under way
Last June, the application (DDC ref 24/00170) to build 23 houses on part of the large field SW of St Edmund’s Road in Great Mongeham, behind the Three Horseshoes, was turned down by Dover DC Planning Committee. Footpath ED38 runs across the proposed site and ED60 along its SE boundary. Unfortunately, as might have been anticipated, the developer appealed, and that formal process is now under way.
- Whitfield development: plans for the latest tranche – the area immediately north of the A2 – submitted to Dover DC
Under the reference 25/00172, detailed plans have been submitted for the area of housing to be constructed north of the A2 and east of the A256. Unfortunately this will mean the end of footpath ER54 as we know it. The path crosses the site, and the first plans show it being routed along new pavements (admittedly with what looks like some greenery to be planted) before exiting the site along a short open corridor immediately prior to crossing the A256. We will have to look at the fine detail and see if anything could be improved, but I am not too hopeful.
As always, if you would like more details about any of the issues mentioned above, or any others for that matter, please contact Roger King on 07779 533 583, or e-mail roger.rambler89@outlook.com
