Fears over the future of historic walkway
Concerns have emerged that a popular Bridge of Allan walking route, which some maintain dates back to the late 19th century, could be lost with plans to build a house in the Pendreich area.
Some respondents to a proposal by Iain and Victoria Mccusker, of Station Road – for a single house with detached garage at ‘Whinnyfold’ – had pointed out the route linking Pendreich Road and Upper Glen Road had been ‘barred’ to them.
As of Monday this week a total of 42 representations, calling for the path to be safeguarded, had been lodged with planners.
The Mccuskers, however, told the Observer this week they are currently working with council officials and an adjacent landowner on the matter.
Some correspondents said they had no objection to the house as long as the path, which runs between 18 and 20 Upper Glen Road, is preserved.
Linda Harrison of Henderson Street in her submission said: ‘I was concerned... when I noticed during lockdown that a fence had been erected across the access from the path into the field blocking the safe and short route from Upper Glen Road to Pendreich Road.
‘The Land Reform Act (Scotland) 2003 giving right of access should apply to the path between the houses at 18 and 20 Upper Glen Road built in the 1880s and the link via the field to Pendreich Road.
‘This connection should be marked before any building commences and preserved.
‘...such a footpath should be safeguarded for people to walk between [Upper Glen Road and Pendreich Road] which are narrow, busy with traffic and have no pavements’.
And Flora Mathieson of Sunnylaw Stables on Pendreich Road said: ‘[The footpath] has appeared on maps dated 1898. It has been accommodated between 20th Century houses on Coxburn Brae (which leads up to Upper Glen Road).
‘In 2020 it has been barred with no provision for its continuance made on the planning application. Ironically earlier this year people were urged to exercise outside locally for an hour when other forms of exercise were not possible. Yet this is a year when the footpath has been denied to walkers’.
Michael Robinson of Fishers Green said his only objection was ‘the blocking of the much used and long standing footpath access through the proposed building land’ adding:
‘[I] would prefer to see current pedestrian access through the field maintained, even if building consent is granted’.
Resident at 16 Upper Glen Road David Nicol said this week that the path met the legal requirements for a right of way and that many respondents to the planning application spoke of their long term use of the path, some for periods of up to 50 years.
He added: “A rich network of footpaths encourages walking or running for fun and exercise, as well as being a practical way of getting to where we need to go
“This footpath is a practical way for people to walk up to the golf club or the Cocksburn Reservoir, or for people living further up the hill to walk down to Glen
Rd, the Darn path and the River Allan.
“And it is not just locals in Bridge of Allan who use it, for example respondents from Dunblane and Causewayhead also note their use of the path.”
A document lodged with the application states that the ‘site forms parts of an allocated housing site with an indicative capacity of four single dwelling houses (ref H135 Sunnylaw) in the Settlement Statement for Bridge of Allan within the adopted Stirling Local Development Plan (LDP) 2018.’
It further points out that the proposal ‘has sought to respect the architectural and visual qualities’ of the Bridge of Allan Conservation Area.
The statement concludes: ‘...the proposal will not compromise the setting or appearance of the Conservation Area or negatively affect flood risk (either locally or elsewhere). It will also positively contribute to housing provision in the area and constitute a sustainable and low carbon development’.
Mr Mccusker told the Observer this week: “We have been collaborating with the planning officer, adjacent land owner and access officer and have identified a solution to maintain a direct link between Upper Glen Road and Pendreich Road.”
A Stirling Council spokesperson said this week: “The field is subdivided into four housing plots. Plot 4 is the subject of the planning application.
“From our records, the path in question is neither a core path nor right of way.
“As with all planning applications, all objections and comments received are taken into account.”