PROW NEWS – SEPTEMBER UPDATES
- Denton footpath ER143 at Lodge Lees – minor diversion order issued
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.
- Barham byway open to all traffic CB552 – creation order to be decided by an Inspector
Just over our borders, in the far south-west of Barham parish….
This Hugh Craddock claim was originally rejected by KCC, but the applicant appealed to the Planning Inspectorate and was successful in getting an order made.
The order would create a new byway open to all traffic (including motorised vehicles), running for some 300 yards from Dane Hill Road at Dane Farm (GR 176 479), north-westwards along a track in the direction of Palmstead, to Peafield Wood Road at GR 174 480. However, objections have been received, so the issue has been referred to the Planning Inspectorate for a decision – due early in 2027.
Unusually, KCC will be taking a neutral stance on this one, leaving Hugh Craddock to try and persuade an Inspector that the new byway should be created. Reason: essentially that KCC believe that the route in question is already a public road, albeit a very minor one, and thus no creation order is required.
- Minster footpath TE39 – temporary closure between Brook Lane and Jutes Lane
As part of the preparations for the new Electrical Station on Minster Marshes – still not finally approved, incidentally – part of this path was closed for “works” from 17 August for up to 6 months. The track which runs from footpath TE37, south of the railway near Sevenscore Crossing south to the lakes, will remain open. However, the section which runs eastwards from GR 329 635 as far as Jutes Lane (the track on the western side of the A256 dual carriageway) will be diverted onto a nearby alternative route. This section, it has to be said, is often obstructed by crops and little used, especially since the new A256 was built.
On the subject of the Electrical Station, reports have been received of surveying work apparently taking place in the area. The project has not yet been formally approved, but such action gives credence to the claim that the decision on it is already assumed to be approval.
- Betteshanger Colliery area – short-term closure/diversion of part of footpath EE367 (Northbourne parish)
As mentioned last month, part of this path is currently subject to a temporary closure order. However, it seems that the order as published was incorrect, since it covered a much longer section of EE367 than was actually necessary. In fact, the only closed section is the short tarmac path, which runs from a point adjacent to Almond House (GR 337 531) for approximately 200 yards south-west to the Betteshanger Social Club. And this can easily be avoided by walking in a short arc via the adjacent Circular Road. So, good news that the rural section onwards to Northbourne is not affected after all, and that the whole path should be reopened by the end of this month.
Development issues:
- Betteshanger Park
It seems that the future of the Park, currently up for sale, may be quite a long running and possibly complicated saga. Last month, we learnt that Sholden Parish Council had been in talks with the BDN environmental charity, amongst others, to look into the possibility of forming a Community Interest Company to take forward a bid for the community buyout of the Park, so that it is ultimately owned either directly by the local community or by a wildlife charity. Since the Park is designated as an Asset of Community Value, this has enabled the Parish Council to make an official Expression of Interest (re the purchase) – the net result being that they have until 24 December to develop and submit a bid.
- Hythe – land off Princes Parade, east of the Imperial Hotel
Earlier in the decade there were proposals for a major development at Princes Parade, including the Golf Course, on the seaward side of the Royal Military Canal(Saxon Shore Way) east of the Imperial Hotel. These proposals were scrapped in 2023. Now another application (Folkestone & Hythe DC ref. 26/1290) has been made to develop this area, with in particular 291 houses, a public park and a mini golf course. Although this would change the character of the area, there fortunately appear to be extensive safeguards for bridleway HB83, which runs along the seaward bank of the Military Canal, with talk of “a substantial buffer zone” and “seating and a heritage trail”.
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
