PROW NEWS – May 2026 UPDATES
Denton – proposed small diversion of footpath ER143 at Lodge Lees
Planning permission (Dover planning ref. 25/00544) has been given for an extension to the Dairy Bungalow, adjacent to Lodge Lees Farm, above and to the west of Denton village (GR 205 475). This will require the diversion of the footpath a little way to the north-east, to emerge onto Lodge Lees Road some 30 yards further north than at present.
- St. Margaret’s – amendment to the recorded width of footpath ER28
Based on historic evidence, an order has been made which would increase the recorded width of a 100 yard section of this path to 7 feet. This section lies to the north-east of the Primary School and the Coach House, just to the east of where the proposed new footpath ER308 would join ER28 from the south – at GR 363 449.
- Saltwood and Hythe parishes – proposed upgrading to bridleway status of footpaths HE287 and HB23
Again, a claim has been made based on historic evidence which would upgrade to bridleway both footpaths HE287 and HB23. The new bridleway would begin at the junction with existing bridlewayHE285, immediately to the east of Saltwood Castle, at GR 163 359. It would then run for almost half a mile south-eastwards, paralleling the old railway track, to Blackhouse Hill at GR 167 354.
- Adisham and Aylesham parishes – proposed upgrading to restricted byway status of footpaths CB526 and EE286A
Another Hugh Craddock claim. Footpath CB526 runs north-eastwards from the junction with bridleway CB200 at the north end of Cooting Downs (GR 224 525), as far as the B2046 Adisham Road. Directly across the road, footpath EE286A runs on north-eastwards along the edge of the Aylesham built up area as far as Ratling Road (GR 239 531). The total distance to be upgraded amounts to something like one mile.
Development proposals:
- Great Mongeham – new revised proposal for 4 houses at South Court Garage
At the end of last year, a proposal to build houses on the garage site in the centre of the village, opposite the Three Horseshoes pub, was withdrawn by the developer. However, a revised proposal for the same site has just been submitted (Dover Planning ref. 26/00097). This time, the existence of footpath ED38, which runs along the north-eastern edge of the site, has been acknowledged and catered for!
- Ash – proposed 200 acre Goshall Valley Solar Farm, between East Street and (very near to) Richborough Castle – appeal lodged
The formal application (Dover planning ref. 23/01363) was rejected by Dover DC Planning Committee last November, in spite of officers’ recommended approval. Whilst no PROW would have been directly affected, views from a number of nearby paths would have been impoverished, with the panels very conspicuous in a flat landscape. Also the temporary access road to facilitate construction would cross footpath EE97 at GR 302 588, and adjoin footpath EE92A where the Brooke Street track meets Cooper Street Drove.
A formal and detailed appeal has now been lodged, with the offered concession of no panels being erected along the line of what is thought to have a been a Roman Road across the site. So a Public Enquiry of up to 7 days has been programmed for this September.
- Aylesham and Snowdown – proposed major housing development between the two villages
Dover DC Planning Committee on 23 April granted outline planning permission for a major development of up to 800 new houses (Dover planning ref. 25/00133) in a 120 acre area bounded by Spinney Lane to the north, Aylesham Road (leading to Snowdown) in the east, and Ackholt Wood to the south-west.
Footpath EE296, from Spinney Lane south-westwards, would be routed through the housing itself along a green corridor. Bridleway EE298 and footpath EE300 would however run across an extensive “natural and semi-natural greenspace” in the southern part of the site. KCC PROW are pressing for a management scheme to improve surfacing, widths and signage in what will be one of the largest single developments proposed in the district, although Aylesham as a whole has of course been extensively enlarged in the last decade.
LATE NEWS:
- Betteshanger Country Park – proposed sale and changes of use in some areas
In the last few days of April, news broke that the owners, Quinn Estates, were planning to sell the Country Park, opened in 2007, and which they took over from the Hadlow Group (then in financial difficulties) in 2019. Details are a little unclear at the moment, although there is talk of new potential plans for a 150-lodge holiday park and a small industrial estate. No doubt we will hear a lot more in the coming weeks.
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
