PROW NEWS – May 2024 UPDATES
Wingham & Goodnestone parishes – Inspector rules new routes should be created – at bridleway status
The original claim, another from Hugh Craddock, would have seen the creation of:
– EE496 – a byway open to all (including motorised) traffic, from the Staple to Wingham road at GR 262 568 south to Little Twitham Farm, and
– EE497 – a restricted byway from Little Twitham Farm south to the ends of newly-upgraded restricted byway EE269A and bridleway EE28, at GR 263 559.
However, after months of deliberation, an Inspector has decided that from the historical evidence available, that these two new routes should be designated as PROW but at bridleway status. This decision will have to be publicly advertised before it can become binding, but hopefully it suits most people. Hugh Craddock holds a brief for the British Horse Society, and horses can use the new route. And people like us will be glad not to see any off-road vehicles on our walks.
Ringwould, Ripple, Langdon parishes – proposed extensions of bridleway ER16 now confirmed
Where these three parishes meet, at Ringwould Road, south-west of Ringwould village at GR 352 479, it had been discovered that the bridleway did not actually extend as far as the road! This order has created that short bridleway extension, together with an equally short new branch (designated EE498) emerging directly opposite footpath EE451 Hangman’s Lane.
Eastry footpath EE262 to Shingleton Farm – proposed extinguishment
This runs from the A256 to Chillenden road at its junction with Thornton Lane (GR 288 523), north-west to Shingleton Farm (GR 287 526). As it is a cul-de-sac route it gets minimal use from walkers and should not be a huge loss.
Wingham EE174 – Diversion order made for this footpath, north of Staple Road
As previously mentioned, Dover DC has approved the building of a new housing development in this large field on the south-eastern edge of the village (DDC planning ref. 23/00976). Footpath EE174 would be retained on exactly the same alignment with a “resin-bound gravel surface” and “integrated into the streetscape, with tree planting and attractive frontages”, i.e. just in front of some of the new houses.
Updated edition of OS Explorer Map for Canterbury, Deal, Thanet and Herne Bay areas (sheet 150)
I finally secured a copy of the new map through the Ordnance Survey online shop. New housing developments etc. are shown, and PROW have been updated to 1 October 2023. I have checked the detail and found two errors:
– Eastry bridleway EE490 from Herendon (at GR 297 541) south-east for 200 yards to Thornton Lane (GR 299 540) was created in 2022 but is not shown.
– Blean footpath CW11 (if you’re further from home) ran from Pean Hill, the main A290 Whitstable Road, at GR 114 622, northwards for well over a mile to Bogshole Lane at GR 115 638. It was extinguished in 2018 due in part to river erosion problems, but is still shown on the new OS map.
Recap of orders made but still awaiting resolution.
- Eastry and Woodnesborough – creation of new restricted byway (EE499) between Selson Lane and the Eastry-Staple road
- Alkham – diversion of footpath ER150 close to Ferne Lane, Chalksole Green. A year since the order was published. No indication as to why such a long delay.
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 01304 362730, or e-mail roger.rambler89@outlook.com
