Whiteshill Village shop - insurance wont pay for a loo to replace the one lost in the fire - many are making loads of effort to raise money to build a replacement - local guy, Damien seems to be working wonders in finding at least some of the labouring time to be donated.Photo: view across to Whiteshill over Randwick playing field
Boundary Wall on Westrip Lane near Hawthorne Rise and opposite Red House Farm - I have made several calls over the issue re the wall since we met Highways on the site and it was raised at the recent Parish Council in the most strongest terms. Several residents believe the wall is now more dangerous and needs urgent attention. See my original blog entry on this here. I again raised it and the news is that it will be 'chased up'.
Right-of-way near the junction between Redhouse Lane and Westrip Lane - I asked a while back about the best way to proceed on this - we had a meeting on the site and we asked if we contacted residents in this area could we proceed at least with stabilising the site perhaps with gravel and make it less slippery for those many people that use it. Residents say it has been used as a unofficial footpath for at least 25 years. We dont want it blocked up only made safer. While I understand this is a low priority it is a well used route and we thought we could be taking more action to improve it. See my original blog entry on this here. Eventually the answer came back that we cannot act as it would need to become a footpath - in otherwords it needs to go through the process to get the path added to the Definitive Map before we can spend public money on it. It takes years to process a claim but if the Parish wishes to start this process we now have the way to do it - is it worth the energy?
Footpath that comes out opposite the Randwick Scout Hut (next to Cashes Green School) on Cashes Green Road - See my blog here for original post. Highways had still not drawn up plans for a safer footpath since their meeting last November - again I have made several calls and emails. A Parish councillor recently reported two children slipping into the road on that muddy bank. At last I have now heard back that Highways designers had a look, and apparently didn't come up with anything they could work with, as the gradient runs in the wrong direction. They did suggest a palisades (metal) fence which is much more resistant to vandals, and harder to take down. This seems absurd as a footpath could surely run the other way? And in my view vandal proof fencing is not really what is required. The Parish need to decide how best to proceed - but I still think a footpath could be made.
4 comments:
Footpath opposite scout hut. The path running parallel to the road here to the wardens is in a terrible state due do land movement over the years. When originally made there was no access to the field over the other side. It would therefore seem sensible to look at the bank overall and come up with a solution to this problem that wiil last a long time. The entire path running from the road to the wordens is damaged in many places and wants renewing. I would consider it dangerous and someone is likely to trip on itat some time.
Also re Hawthorn rise. is there planning guideance available to view re getting this made as a footpath. Surely it cannot be that difficult to get twenty five yards of new path laid. The new access at cashes green opposite the spar was far more complicated.
Thanks for comment: as folk will know "almost all of the county's public rights of way (footpath and bridleways, mainly) are maintained and protected in Gloucestershire by staff and contractors from the county council".
At least that is what they claim - in fact the Parish Council also spend lots on cutting back grass, nettles etc. I would strongly urge you to make your comment to the County as it adds weight to those comments already made by others - I will also pass it to the Parish Council but it is outside my ward and also a County Council matter - I have particularly raised the bank opposite the Scout Hut as several people have raised it with me but you are right the path does need attention.
To get footpaths designated is infact loads of work - you will see elsewhere in this blog examples of where we are trying to get new ones made like behind the fire station into Hamwell Leaze.
For path problems telephone the county council on 01452 425577 or e mail them on prow@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Re Hawthorn Rise. Have all avenues been exhausted in transfering this to a path (not footpath). Presumably part of the land needs transfering into the ownership of the county council. I understand the Hawthotrn Rise residents are the owners of the lease.
As noted on the blog before: "The Parish has been unable to resolve the problem despite contacting various agencies including the Land Registry to identify ownership and thereby bring pressure to bear on the developers, if they still exist as they were last heard of as being based in the Channel Islands - after the original development company ceased trading."
This makes it enormously difficult to proceed - we need to get hold of landowner - it seems the County Council are not so interested or more accurately are not resourced to pursue matter. Are there any local residents who could be interested in taking actions?
I would be inclined to make the improvements anyway if local residents agreed, but that is not the way Councils can proceed!
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