Footpath row continues

Almost a year on from a controversial planning battle to widen the footpath around Linlithgow Loch, West Lothian Council is now pursuing a buyout of the land it needs.

The land at Lady Park is owned by a trust and is currently tenanted by a farmer who uses it for grazing. In October last year, the council won planning permission to create a new footpath along the lower part of the field to enhance the route around the loch.

The controversial plan was criticised by neighbours, and the farmer because the path cuts away from the lochside into the field and renders the land unusable for grazing livestock. Changes to the design saw the original width of the path- almost 10 feet – reduced to just over six feet, or two metres.

The two metres is the minimum required to be adopted for maintenance by the council. Additional planting of hedges and shrubbery as well as stock- proof fencing has not assuaged critics though.

Principal planner, Chris Alcorn, told the Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel that Property Services were engaged in compulsory purchase order to buy the land.

Mr Alcorn told the meeting: “It is safe to say the farmer wasn’t happy at all. “The field is used quite intensively for grazing sheep. The belief is that losing the lower five metres (16ft) strip would make it unusable.

“There would be a reduction in the field but not significant.”

A report to committee concluded: “As of August 2020, a negotiated acquisition has not been forthcoming to date.

“Property Services are currently pursuing acquisition including by Compulsory Purchase Order if required. “