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MM footpath designations

The map above shows the current designated footpaths in the Parish of Marston Meysey, the red line delineates the Parish boundary. Footpath 10 is still proving a problem for walkers but is now subject to a diversion.

One of our footpaths is missing ( a long story)

The possibility of a footpath diversion has been agreed in planning since 2003, but now, Morton Cullimore have applied for a diversion to footpath 10 starting at Whetstone Cottage and rerouting the path round the boundary of the site and along the Thames to the south. Wiltshire County Council (WCC) have consulted the Marston meysey Parish meeting for their views but no formal diversion has been put in place. However, the developer has pre-empted the planning process and erected bunds around the field crossed by the footpath from the Roundhouse and ending behind Whetstone cottage preventing access to the path. The photos below show the state of this path.

1 Access from Roundhose drive towards Whetstone, where is the path.?

2 Another view towards Whetstone

3 A view looking back from the top of the bund ajacent to Whetstone cottage.

The footpath crossed this area which is now scraped clean.

The line of trees in the foreground shows the line of the drainage ditch which must be crossed if the original line of MM10 be followed.

4 The view, as will be seen by a walker exiting from Whetstone Cottage.

Where does one go from here ?

Photo taken by a local resident.

Click photo for larger image

Footpaths  May 2009

Since the above photos were taken the site has changed dramatically and these pictures do not show the true position, they are of historical interest, but are useful in documenting the evolution of the site. The current position is Cullimore have applied for a permanent diversion of footpath 10 the line of which is subject to discussion on the recently formed liaison meeting and will shortly be debated at our Parish meeting. It is interesting to note that the current proposal is different to that outlined above.

Footpaths June 2009

The views of the Parish meeting have been conveyed to WCC footpaths officer and we await a decision. It is important that we protect the footpaths as far as is possible now, as they will still be there once the mineral extraction has ceased and will, hopefully, provide a long term area of interest to the naturalist and other recreational users. This area will become even more important if, in the long term, the Thames and Severn canal footpath comes into being.

Footpaths March 2011

 Following formal objections to the proposals to divert footpath 10 the matter was referred  the secretary of state for adjudication. An inspector visited the site and confirmed the order for the diversion subject to the following condition "The diversion will not have effect until Wiltshire Council (WCC) certifies that the requirements defined in Paragraph 2 have been complied with". This means that when the diversion has been inspected by WCC and details of the completion of works published in the local press.