PROW NEWS – September 2023 UPDATES
- Goodnestone bridleway EE269 – upgrade to restricted byway confirmed
This involves the whole length of EE269, from Goodnestone Road/Cave Lane in the north (GR 256 555) to the junction of the Adisham and Ratling roads in the south (GR 247 542). The bridleway (EE269A) immediately to the north of this route is also currently the subject of a similar upgrading order: made but not yet determined. NB An upgrade from bridleway to restricted byway means that in addition to walkers, cyclists and horse riders, horse-drawn vehicles (but definitely not motorised vehicles), may use the route.
2. Wingham & Goodnestone parishes – objections to proposed new byways
As a result of objections received, the order to create these new byways has been passed to the Planning Inspectorate. The issue will be decided by written representations, with the result likely in December. If approved the new routes are: EE496 – a byway open to all (including motorised) traffic, from the Staple – Wingham road at GR 262 568 south to Little Twitham Farm, and EE497 – a restricted byway from Little Twitham Farm south to the end of existing bridleways EE269A and EE28 at GR 263 559.
3. Staple footpath EE190 – objections to proposed upgrade to bridleway
Also passed to the Planning Inspectorate for determination in the same way as the byways mentioned above, but with, I understand, more objections. If approved, the order would upgrade to bridleway status the whole of footpath EE190 from Staple church south-west to Claypits (GR 259 522), just north of Goodnestone village.
4. Creation of new footpath Guston ER305 at Upper Road – a cul-de-sac?
KCC was recently obliged to act on a legal ruling just rediscovered, dated 1955. At that time the area of Upper Road east of the Bleriot Memorial looked very different, with no Jubilee Way. There was a track which left Upper Road adjacent to what is now the A2 bridge, only to rejoin it further east, having cut off the huge bend which gives access to Langdon Cliffs. This erstwhile track has now been designated a public footpath,but there is no legal access to Upper Road at its Jubilee Way end. And the vegetation is too thick to force an unofficial way through, to say nothing of an awkward gradient. So sadly the benefit of this creation order is limited, to say the least.
5. Waldershare Park Deer Park – not now happening
As mentioned last month, the Waldershare Estate is up for sale, and (at least for now) the controversial proposal for a deer park across the North Downs Way and another bridleway has been officially withdrawn.
6. Objections to the next stage of Whitfield expansion
Outline planning permission (Dover DC ref 23/00830) has recently been sought for the next stage of the Whitfield expansion. This would see housing north-west of Archers Court Road as far as Whitfield church, covering what is now Parsonage Farm. Footpath ER62 between these two points would become a completely urbanised walk. And although the developer would argue that this would be through a “green corridor”, part of the path would appear to skirt a road. KCC PROW HQ in Maidstone have objected, seeking better provision for walkers and cyclists. The sizeable new housing development would also adjoin footpath ER63. There have been many objections, mainly centring on the lack of infrastructure, so this isn’t going anywhere fast. But it will be one to watch.
As always, if you would like more details of the PROW issues mentioned above, or any others for that matter, including those “in the pipeline”, please contact Roger King on 01304 362730, or e-mail roger.rambler89@outlook.com
