PROW NEWS – December 2024 UPDATES
- News from KCC
– Path clearance. According to KCC’s Brabourne PROW Office, we in our area have fared much better with work done by their path clearance contractors this summer than people living further west! But I’m sure they are also more than grateful for work done by our “Slashers”. Meanwhile they are examining bids for the next round of contracts, as the existing 7-year ones came to an end this summer.
– Budgets. Despite continuing budget uncertainties for the future, happily the 24/25 figure is much the same as for 23/24, and they now have a full complement of staff.
– Results of the 2024 Summer Cropping Campaign. This targets paths at risk of not being reinstated. It shows that in the 50-odd White Cliffs parishes, 18 paths were inspected, of which 4 required further KCC enforcement action (letters, warnings etc.). The percentage of non-compliance is rather less than in recent years. Across the whole of east Kent, inspections totalled 157 with 47 initially unsatisfactory.
– Other enforcement action. In addition to notices served in relation to crops and ploughing, KCC across east Kent have also served a further 20 notices in relation to 13 other offences. In our area, these related to Woodnesborough footpath EE195, a serious barbed wire blockage mentioned in earlier Updates. And Goodnestone EE488, an existing through route from Chillenden eastwards to the A256 (including Black Lane and its continuation), but one which only became a PROW – at bridleway status – in 2020 following strong opposition from the owners of Knowlton Court.
- Proposed creation of three new footpaths in St Margaret’s – consultation
An application has been made to KCC, based on a period of 20 years’ unrestricted usage (i.e.no locked gates, absence of “no right of way” signs, no challenge to users etc.) to create three new paths. There are currently “no right of way” signs on two of them, but apparently these are relatively new. They are all situated in the area to the east and north-east of the village Primary School:
(i) – a 150-yard path running NNE from footpath ER276 (Droveway Gardens) at GR 362 447, along a grassy track to footpath ER28 at GR 363 448.
(ii) – a 215-yard path running NNE from Sea Street (the main road from the village to the Bay) at GR 361 445, across a rough field to footpath ER276 (Droveway Gardens) at what would be the southern terminus of claimed footpath (i) above.
(iii) – a 260-yard footpath beginning at the same the point on Sea Street where claimed footpath (ii) would begin. It would then run NE across the rough field to a point on footpath ER276 (Droveway Gardens) where the houses begin, at GR 363 446.
- Claimed new footpath (EE500) between Eastry and Hammill – creation order now made
A rare claim by Hugh Craddock that would not be useable by horses. This new footpath would leave Gore Lane, near Eastry Primary School, at GR306 550. Heading westwards across country it would terminate on the lane south of the old brickworks site at GR 290 555. At about a mile long, this would be a very useful addition to the PROW network.
- Development proposals affecting PROW
- Birchington – proposal for 1,600 houses on land north and south of Canterbury Road (the A28), west of the village – now approved
Following an updated assessment, the Thanet DC Planning Committee narrowly approved the principle of this huge development at a special meeting on 26 November. It will affect footpaths TM37 (via a railway crossing NW to Minnis Bay), TM32 (SW to Great Brooksend), and TM31 (westwards from the B2050, south of the Quex Park entrance). For full details of the deliberations and implications, see:
- Dover District
Nothing of significance emerged from the 21 November Planning Committee.
However, it is worth noting that the judicial review of the surf park and hotel approved for Betteshanger Country Park has now been dropped, so the development will go ahead as planned.
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
