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18 Feb 2016

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Colyton, Developers/ Development

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Attempt to very quietly close public footpaths in Colyton to aid development

From a correspondent:

“A group of landowners, Stubbings Group, are trying to close Footpath 8 Northleigh, 3 Farway, 6 Colyton and 10 Southleigh.

Colyton Parish Council have supported the closure contrary to an appeal by a former councillor September 2014.

The last proposal to agree the closures was dominated by Andrew Parr, proposed by Bob Collier and seconded by Colin Pady – all members of the Feoffees. The Stubbins Group have 4 members of the Hurford family – one of which was also a Feoffee for many many years.

There was going to be a public appeal in February 2015 in Northleigh but now it is going to be judged on paperwork only and submissions. The Ramblers have put in a large document.

The East Devon Way has had to go on road from the original route because of this and Devon County Council have 2 new bridges sitting in a depot because the land owners will not allow access over their land to erect them until this legal battle is decided.

However, if anyone wants to challenge the closure and make a comment it has to be in by Monday 22nd February 2015, which has not been publicised by Colyton Parish Council.

Chairman Andrew Parr told this correspondent following a meeting on Wednesday that it was too late to submit an appeal but this is not correct.

If you want to lodge your comments they must be there before Monday 22nd to:

Planning Inspectorate, Helen Sparks, Rights of Way section, Room 3/25, Hawk Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN

OR email:helen.sparks@pins.gsi.gov.uk

which if done any now from now over the weekend would get there.”

5 thoughts on “Attempt to very quietly close public footpaths in Colyton to aid development”

  1. Aren’t we under the impression that the existence of Public Rights of Way ( if that is what these footpaths are) are enshrined in law , and have been since the writing of Magna Carta 800 years ago? Can they legally do this? Can they even try? Do these people have any respect for the law? Doesn’t appear so to me …. Nothing changes!

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    • Yes they can – all parties involved )except the general public and public spirited groups such as Ramblers) seem to have the same aims and an endless supply of cash and lawyers who know how to manipulate the system.

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    • Mike – Are you having a laugh (to coin a catchphrase)?

      EDDC demonstrate week-in week-out a disregard for the law – whether it be repeatedly failing to meet the statutory deadlines for FoI responses, being economical with the truth to an English court, illegal decisions to discuss agenda items in secret, disclosure of sensitive personal data etc., but when they are criticised it is simply water of a duck’s back. They have no scruples, no integrity and no shame.

      I encourage anyone who is angry about anything that EDDC have done to join the East Devon Alliance and fight back.

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    • A quick search suggests that you can find a background summary at http://www.devon.gov.uk/cma_report.htm?cmadoc=report_hcw1371.html and further documents relating to the appeal at http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/planning/countryside/rightsofway/onlinerow/onlinerowd

      The bad news is that this process seems to be well advanced – the good news is that it doesn’t appear to be completed yet.

      It appears that DCC made an order on 20 November 2013 to delete these footpaths, but that this requires review by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and a Public Local Inquiry.

      The Notice of review by SecState and Public Local Inquiry was dated 1 September 2014 (more than 17 months ago), with an implication that representations and objections preceded that date, and a deadline of 8 December 2014 for representers and objectors to submit their legal case. The good news is that the Public Local Inquiry has been postponed at least twice first from 11 February 2015 and then from August 2015, with no revised date appearing – and no indication why there is a delay or whether the process has stalled permanently.

      I would imagine that the proposals can still be viewed at Colyton Parish Council offices on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:30am-noon, and at Devon County Hall weekdays 9am-4pm.

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