Encourage responsible walking in countryside
I WAS shocked and saddened by the pictures and story headlined ‘Walkers are warned: Don’t stray off the path’ (Newbury Weekly News, February 11). I know, because the offenders are constituents of my Wash Common ward, that the so-called Battle Field alongside the former AWE/MOD housing estate is a very popular area for dog walking and that for decades local people have strayed off the paths that border two edges of the field. Farmers and land managers have been extremely tolerant during the pandemic of the minority of walkers who have used many field edges near our towns and villages that are not public rights of way.
But walkers need to realise that this is trespassing and if there are livestock or crops in the fields this can cause harm to livelihoods and undermine relations between the public and farming community.
These field ‘margins’ are also for wildlife, so trespassers can be doing real environmental harm.
As it happens, the very day this article appeared I asked a formal question at the council executive meeting about this subject.
I asked what could be done to encourage – rather than control – the very welcome increase in numbers of people wanting to take their daily exercise in our lovely countryside.
The health benefits are enormous and it was the council’s health and wellbeing spokesman who answered. I’m very pleased that in its budget for next year the council is spending over £100k on work to improve rights of way – far more than any recent year.
But I pointed out that for those of us living in larger settlements and if the exercise is ‘local’ there needs to be safer road routes for us to get to nearby countryside.
Many minor roads next to towns are very busy and have no safe verges. So where possible, I urge the highway authority to focus on these on-road links between where people live and where they want to walk – starting with roads like Lawrences Lane in Thatcham, Skinners Green and Cope Hall lanes in Enborne parish west of Newbury.
If possible, close them to vehicular through traffic altogether or work with the adjoining landowner to create ‘behind the hedge’ paths.
Parish and town councils can assist in two ways.
They usually have good relations with local landowners and farmers and can create new rights of way by voluntary agreements.
They also have funds from any new housing development which can be spent on creating new paths and improving existing ones – or passing back to the highway authority to carry out work on the roads for the benefit of local walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Finally, if there are land managers, land owners or parish councillors out there who support recreational use of our countryside being improved, please consider joining their Local
A MAN has denied a charge of assault.
In the dock at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, February 11, was Simon Andrew Ruta. The 38-year-old, of Prospect Road, Hungerford, is accused of assaulting Edward Ruta by beating him in Thatcham on September 6 last year.
He was told that the case could proceed no further that day and magistrates adjourned for a trial to be fixed.
Mr Ruta, who spoke only to confirm his details and to deny the charge, was meanwhile released on unconditional bail.
ACCESS to Thatcham Station will be affected for two nights next week.
Pipers Lane will be closed between its junctions with Aylesford Way and Station Road between 10pm and 5.30am from Monday, March 1, to Wednesday March 3.
The closure will be in place to allow contractors to carry out sewer cleaning within the carriageway.
Residential access will be maintained throughout and a diversion will be signed on site.
The diversion in place is from Pipers Lane on to Pipers Way, taking the first exit on to Station Road and vice versa.
West Berkshire Council said that although blue light access will be maintained, due to the narrow width of the road, equipment may have to be moved before access can be gained.
All enquiries should be directed to Lanes Group Plc on 03333 445 680.