PROW NEWS – NOVEMBER UPDATES
- Paddlesworth, Hawkinge and Newington parishes – proposed creation of a new restricted byway (HE378)
An order has been made which will create a new 550 yard restricted byway. This runs from Fishers Lane (east of Paddlesworth village) near to where it is crossed by footpath HE208 and adjacent to the reservoirs at GR 200 395, south-east along an existing track to Elvington Lane, opposite Elvington Farm (just south-west of the Hawkinge built-up area) at GR 202 391.
- Capel-le-Ferne footpath ER243 – minor diversion to accommodate new housing
Back in 2018, Dover DC confirmed an order to divert this footpath, but the agreed development never took place, the order was mislaid by DDC, and the error has only now been rectified by KCC, who have taken over responsibility for such orders. The path runs from the Capel Street/Winehouse Lane junction at GR 251 394, and its new course is slightly to the south of the previous route. The relatively small plot of land concerned is actually still empty, but it appears that it will at last be built on soon.
Development proposals affecting PROW:
Most news this month has not been of paths which will be directly affected by new houses built across their actual route, but of paths that will now run along the boundary of a new development. Not disastrous, and with a green “buffer” in most cases, but any rural “feel” is diminished. Other topics :
- Inspector rejects developer’s appeal against the refusal of proposed housing in Great Mongeham
In spring 2024, a developer made an application to build 23 houses on part of the large field SW of St Edmund’s Road in Great Mongeham, behind the Three Horseshoes pub, used mainly as pastureland for horse grazing, but also for occasional village activities. Footpath ED38 runs across the proposed site and ED60 along its SE boundary. There was strong opposition locally, and Dover DC Planning Committee refused permission. The developer subsequently appealed, but last month an Inspector ruled against the appeal. He concluded that the harm to the landscape and heritage assets outweighed the benefits of new housing, and that DDC had acted reasonably in reaching its original decision.
- Evolution Power’s huge (400 acres) Stonestreet Green Solar Farm at Aldington approved by the Secretary of State
Just outside our territory, but an issue in which many people have taken a keen interest. After the rejection earlier this year of the smaller (255 acres) East Stour Solar Farm to the north-east of Aldington village, an Inspector saying in effect that it would be too damaging to the landscape and change the character of many PROW, there was some hope that the project might be rejected on similar grounds. But because of its size, and a generation capacity of more than 50MW, the final decision fell to the Secretary of State, who approved the 400 acre site. Bad news for villagers, and potentially bad news for walkers too, as a number of routes are affected, about which KCC PROW had made representations. No doubt we will soon learn more about the detailed effects on paths, but in the meantime more information on the decision can be found on the internet, starting with the link below….
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3zxxy1lnvo
- Proposed new 70 acre lorry park to accommodate 600 vehicles – off the A20 junction at Court Wood, in Hougham parish
Plans have just been announced, with a potential planning application to follow, for a large lorry park at Court Wood. From the plan, it appears that the development would take place on land between the old A20, and the current A20 dual carriageway. If so, it would lie across footpath ER278, which parallels the old A20 at this point. More information via the link below.
Latest Update:
“The latest plans indicate that the proposed lorry park would in fact be between the A20 dual carriageway and the northern side of the old A20 (now B2011 Folkestone Road) at the Court Wood junction. Which means that footpath ER278 will fortunately not be affected”.
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
