Give us back our public footpath
ARUNCORN arthritis sufferer has accused a building firm of leaving disabled and elderly residents with a lengthy round trip to reach shops and a bus stop, by stopping the public from using a neighbourhood path.
Deborah Tully, 55, of Littlegate, Halton Brook, who walks with a stick, said those living in her close now face a 750-yard walk, about 150 yards more, to reach the neighbourhood centre.
She claimed builders Seddon had agreed to re-open the path once its construction work on nearby greenspace was completed but has now been awarded a stopping-up order on the route.
The company has denied having had plans to retain it and plans filed with Halton Borough Council in 2007 appeared to confirm the plot of land was earmarked to become part of the grounds of a new- build property.
Last week, Jonathan Farmer, Halton Borough Council highway development manager wrote to Mrs Tully to say that the local authority had informed Seddon that it would be willing to adopt the path if the firm would re-instate it, but has been informed by the company’s solicitor that Seddon is ‘not prepared to deal with this matter by any other means other than granting a right of access to the rear of the properties’.
Mr Farmer said this would mean to the west and not the path Mrs Tully had in mind.
The path is now part of the grounds of a bungalow being built as part of the construction of 114 homes and the redevelopment of the neighbourhood centre in Halton Brook.
Seddon subsidiary, Inspired Developments, was granted planning permission in 2007.
The area in question near Mrs Tully’s home was subject to a subsequent application by Halton Housing Trust to install an extra care facility with 50 two-bedroom flats and 21 houses and bungalows.
Although approved in 2013, the project was not pursued.
Had it gone ahead, plans indicated that the path would have been retained.
Denis Maddock, sales and marketing director, said the stopping up order was legal.
He said: “In line with the planning permission granted in 2007, the footpath was legally stopped up by Halton Borough Council.
“The approved proposals, which were communicated to local residents as part of the planning process, did not include the re-instatement of a footpath in this location as the land has now changed use from open space to domestic curtilage and forms part of the new development.”