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Footpaths

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 it may be subject to a diversion.

The pictures below (taken during 2007)show some problem footpaths to the south of the village, at Roundhouse Farm, designated locally as paths 6 &10 (around grid reference SU132963). These paths are on farmland now given over to gravel extraction and operated by Morton Cullimore. A nice country path or SAS training ground ?

1

A general view of the terrain crossed by footpath 10

2

Seen along the way

3

A general view looking toward Castle Eaton

4

Footpath 10 looking back towards the Roundhouse

5

Recent picture of the footpath

This shows work since the last pictures (1-4) were taken, the trick is to find the path now extraction has started.

6

Another recent picture showing the view across the line of the footpath.

7 Taken Dec 07 by a local walker

This shot shows the deterioration in footpath 10 since the earlier pictures were taken. This walker was advised to walk along the narrow strip on the right between the pond and the ajoining ditch !

Although some improvements have been carried out ,particularly around the Roundhouse, since pictures 1-4 were taken pictures 5and 6 show what the walker still has to face.

Some updating information

Picture 7 taken December 07 illustrates the challenges a walker faces on this so called footpath.

One of our footpaths is missing

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.

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

9 Another view towards Whetstone

10 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.

11 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.