Six-year right of way battle set to restart
Harbour route public inquiry
THE NEXT stage in a six year-long battle between a council and residents over the public right of way around a harbour could soon be underway.
Following years of delays surrounding a row linked to a route around the Camber, in Old Portsmouth, a public inquiry is now able to take place.
There has been conflict over the legal standing of the public's right to walk around the 575 metre perimeter of the dock after the construction of the £12m Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) headquarters, which started in 2014.
Portsmouth City Council was forced by the government's planning inspectorate to make an order for the path to become a restricted byway in February last year - but then said it would challenge that order.
The situation was held back further when the authority revealed it had lost the city's definitive map and statement - a new one of which was only just approved on December 9 - which is needed for right of way disputes.
A council spokesman said: 'Because we now have a new definitive map, the appeal against the council's refusal of a right of way can now proceed.
'We're making the necessary preparations for the national planning inspectorate to hold a public inquiry to settle the issue. The inspectorate will decide when this will be held.
'The council wants people to have access to the area, but a right of way would not be compatible with its function as a harbour, not least because of safety issues.'
But Old Portsmouth resident Ken Bailey, from the Camber Action Group, said there was 'clear documentary evidence' in support of the right of way in past council and parliamentary records.
'The benefit of the route being available enables all to continue to enjoy the attractions of this most historic part of the city and the workings of boats and ships that go on here,' he said.
'We eagerly anticipate presenting the significant further evidence that we have been busy collecting during the past two years or so at the subsequent formal public inquiry when this occurs, and thereby legally cementing formal access to the Camber for us all to enjoy.'