Hampshire County Council

Regulatory Committee Item 18

29 November 2006

Proposed licenced footpath in the Parish of Hursley

Report of the Director of Recreation & Heritage

Contact: Colin Piper Ext. 6043 [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 A landowner has offered to enter into an agreement with the county council for the provision of a licenced public footpath for a period of five years. It is considered that the path would be of benefit to the public by enabling them to walk between Ladwell and Hursley, avoiding a busy and dangerous road with no footway. The offer is recommended for acceptance.

2. Landowner:

Hursley 2000 Ltd

Clifton House

Bunnian Place

Basingstoke

Hampshire

RG21 7QY

3. Background

3.1 A resident of Ladwell suggested that the establishment of a footpath that connects the hamlet with Hursley would benefit the public by enabling them to avoid a dangerous walk along a busy road with no footway. The obvious route is along the edge of a field. When approached by the county council, the landowner was not prepared to dedicate a permanent path but was willing to consider a temporary arrangement for five years. This offer was also made on condition that the council accepts responsibility for injuries to the public whilst using the route and any work necessary to put the route in good order.

3.2 The resident who proposed this route has submitted the following information about potential use:

"There are eight houses in Ladwell, close to the footpath, and I'm sure most inhabitants would use it, particularly in the summer. There are five children of primary school age, in three families, and one toddler living here and also four children at senior school. I know this last group won't use the footpath for school but they would make use of it to walk down to the village to catch buses to Winchester, Romsey and Hiltingbury and to visit friends in the village. There is only about one bus per day that goes through Ladwell and the road is too dangerous for them to walk along at the moment. One neighbour doesn't drive and cycles to the village every day to catch the bus to work in Winchester and she would prefer to walk along a footpath to reach the bus stop. There are also a fair number of walkers and joggers who come across from Cranberry Park but either have to turn back and retrace their steps or brave the traffic on the B3043. A few years ago the Ampfield Countryside Heritage Group published a book of walks in the area (The Keble Way) and the advice on the walk from Cranbury Park to Ladwell is `Do not venture onto the B3043 as there is no provision for pedestrians on this very busy narrow road.' Once the footpath is established then it would link the footpath from Otterbourne through Cranberry Park to the existing Keble Way and Monarch's Way."

4. Description of footpath (please see map at back of report)

4.1 The path would run north from a cul-de-sac road at Ladwell (point A), through a kissing gate, and then northwards for 500 metres along the edge of a field that is currently in set-aside. Parts of this route are currently overgrown with surface and overhanging vegetation that would have to be cut back to provide a useable route. At the northern end of the path (point B) would be another kissing gate that would connect the path with a footway alongside the main road through Hursley village.

5. Consultations with other bodies

5.1 Hursley Parish Council

This issue was considered by the parish council at its meeting on 13^th November following which the Clerk responded as follows:

This footpath was first mooted in the late 1980s by our then chairwoman who lived in Ladwell. At the time Hays Farms Ltd, who owned the estate, would not agree. The parish council renewed the request from time to time but it was not until the present owners bought the estate in about 2000 that a more positive attitude developed, although we were told that the county council would not accept the occupier's liability risk. The parish council are still very much in favour of the proposed path and would urge the Regulatory Committee to approve the establishment of this path.

5.2 Winchester District Council

(To be reported at meeting)

5.3 Councillor Mrs Bailey - local member

(To be reported at meeting)

5.4 The Ramblers Association

(To be reported at meeting)

6. Financial implications

6.1 Under the terms of the proposed agreement the council is obliged to do the work necessary to establish the path on the ground. This work includes cutting back surface and overhanging vegetation to provide an unobstructed, two metre wide, natural path. The agreement also specifies kissing gates to be installed at both ends of the route, in the existing hedge line, together with notices explaining the status of the path. It is estimated that this work will cost in the region of £1,500 but that figure mostly consists of the labour costs of the countryside service teams and use of their existing equipment. It will also be necessary to maintain the path by mowing the surface vegetation, but this is not expected to be an onerous responsibility.

6.2 Although there is a significant, initial, financial outlay, the officers take the view that there is, potentially, great benefit for the public in having this path, if only for five years. The proposed route will link Ladwell with Hursley and therefore enable the residents, including the five children of primary school age, to walk to the village. It will also complete a missing link in the rights of way network between Footpath 3 and Footpath 4. At present anyone wishing to walk between these destinations have to take their chances along a busy road, with no footway. It is difficult to assess how much use the path will get but the council will publicise its existence and encourage its use. If the path proves successful the council would hope to extend the agreement with the landowner when it expires.

RECOMMENDATION

That the council enter into an agreement with the owners of the Hursley Estate to establish a licenced footpath for a period of five years.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB The list excludes (1) published works and (2) documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

File: Ladwell-Hursley Footpath - Rights of Way Office, Mottisfont Court, Winchester