Local Access Denied!!!! - 2007/03/13 08:51As a resident of Charlestown, Baildon I walk my dog daily in the wildlife park behind Denso Marsdens, to get to the park we use a one of two paths to the side of the Filtronic Comptek building at the bottom of Acorn Park Industrial Estate, to reach these paths you have to cross Filtronic Car park. However on Wednesday last week notices appeared to say the paths were not a public right of way and as of 31/03/07 there would be no public access to the riverbank via these paths. I have contacted Bradford Council Rights of Way department who advised me the paths are not currently a designated right of way, however in most cases unrecorded paths come into being through a minimum of 20 years unopposed usage by the general public (which is the case, here). Therefore after speaking to many of my fellow dog walkers and local people in general who use these paths I am setting the wheels in motion to try to have at least one of the paths formally registered as a public footpath. Fiona Plane at the rights of way department said she had spoken to Filtronic, they had also checked with her in regard to the paths being a recorded right of way, and although I can understand why, they are apparently fed up of loose dogs in their car park and of dog fouling. As a responsible dog owner I feel denying access which has existed for over 25 years is rather extreme, surely providing a designated path across their car park and signage to say keep dogs on a lead and tidy up after them would be the first step. Although this is not the only access to the wildlife park, for the majority of Charlestown residents it is certainly the closest and the most easily accessible. The other entrance to the park is from the other side of Denso Marsden, the footpath entry is across from St James church and down through the field to the riverbank, however due the horses in this field it can be extremely difficult underfoot, especially in wet weather As far as I can remember Filtronic was built in the early 80's - I haven't actually been able to confirm the date (if anyone knows the exact date, please let me know) and ever since completion there has been a path at either side of the building down onto the riverbank - why did they leave the paths originally? Why not fence off the access then? After speaking to many local residents over the weekend it appears I am not the only person un-happy with this situation, personally I have used these paths for over 15 years and many local residents have been using the paths in excess of 20 years. The Council are sending me the forms required to start the wheels in motion to have the path designated as a public right of way. On Saturday 17th March there is a guided walk in the wildlife park which I will be attending hoping to rally support and get a petition signed by as many local residents and wildlife park visitors as possible and enlist the support of the wildlife wardens. If you have been using these paths please let me know, the more evidence I have support the application the more chance we have of it being successful. Please post replies or email me: julie_robinson2@spring.com
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Paul Marfell
Re:Local Access Denied!!!! - 2007/03/17 10:05To all those reading this posting - please feel free to post your support or comments here.
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Paul Marfell
Re:Local Access Denied!!!! - 2007/03/18 18:01To keep people up to date here is the text from a couple of emails. Email from Fiona Plane to Cllr John ColeThe route from Acorn Park to the riverside footpath, adjacent to the Filtronic building, is not recorded as a public right of way. We were recently approached by Filtronic who would like to close off the route due to the problems they are suffering at their site. Cars are being parked in their car park filling the spaces, walkers are allowing their dogs to run uncontrolled across the area, harassing members of Filtronic staff. The grassed area around the building is being affected by dog fouling which is not been cleared away by the dog owners.
We advised Filtronic that the route is not recorded as a public right of way so in theory there was nothing to stop them fencing the route off as they would like to do. However we also warned them that it was quite possible that public rights had become established if the route had been used by the public for a period of more than twenty years. Filtronic decided to put up a notice stating their intention to close off the route in order that the public were given some warning and a chance to comment, they are aware that this may result in an application being made to the Council for the route to be recorded as a public right of way.
I have already been contacted by a few people regarding this path. Yesterday I sent out a pack to enable a local resident to apply to have the route registered as a public right of way, this included a number of evidence forms that will need to be completed by people who have used the route for many years. I also sent out a number of evidence forms to another local resident who will also ask people who have walked the route to complete these and return them to me.
I have asked the warden at Denso Marstons Nature Reserve to refer any people who comment on these notices to me so that evidence forms can be sent out to them.
I have spoken to Mr Lorrain-Smith this morning to explain the current situation to him and will be posting an evidence form out to him today.
I will also be contacting Filtronic to let them know of the comments that have already been received and that an application may be made to record the route as a footpath.
I hope that this information is of help. If you receive any further queries on this please give people my contact details and encourage them to contact me so that I can send them an evidence form to complete.
Regards
Fiona Plane Rights of Way Officer City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council 5th Floor North Jacobs Well Bradford BD1 5RW 01274 431018 Email from Cllr John Cole to Peter Bridgman. Sent Friday 16th March 2007. Re. Acorn Park, Otley Road Baildon - buildings owned by Filtronics.
Filtronic are seeking to close off a path hitherto used by dog walkers to gain access through their site from Acorn Park to the River Aire.
The matter is being dealt with by Fiona Plane.
However, I have heard this afternoon that when the Acorn Park Industrial Park was built that a condition of the granting of planning permission was that there should be footpath access through the site to the river bank.
Would it be possible to confirm or disconfirm this assertion? Is it possible for me (or any other resident) to have sight of the permission granted way back when the Park was constructed? This might have been in the days of Baildon UDC. Where would the records be kept?
Any help you can give in this matter would be appreciated.
I shall copy in Fiona Plane.
Best Regards
John Cole
Post edited by: pmarfell, at: 2007/03/18 18:04
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Julie Robinson
Re:Local Access Denied!!!! - 2007/03/19 09:10Thank you to all who took the time to attend Saturdays meeting and complete the user evidence forms. The website proved very useful, Fiona Plane, Bradford Council Rights of Way Officer, came to the meeting, Cllr John Cole also came in support. Fiona will be contacting Filtronic with the evidence collected and is hopeful that a compromise can be reached which will keep both Filtronic and local users happy.
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Paul Marfell
Re:Local Access Denied!!!! - 2007/03/28 00:56This is a photo of Fiona Plane, Sara Clarke, Julie Robinson and ..... at the meeting on 17th March where good progress was made in discussing the footpath issue.
Post edited by: pmarfell, at: 2007/03/28 01:03
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