Meeting documents

Regulatory (Access) Committee
Tuesday, 8th January, 2008

Bath & North East Somerset Council

MEETING:

Regulatory Access Committee

AGENDA
ITEM
NUMBER

12

MEETING DATE:

Tuesday 8th January 2008

   

TITLE:

UPDATE OF DEFINITIVE MAP ORDER AND PUBLIC PATH ORDER WORK

WARD:

ALL

AN OPEN PUBLIC ITEM

1 THE ISSUE

1.1 This report is provided to update Members in the present position regarding Definitive Map Order and Public Path Order work - excluding work on the Bath Definitive Map Project.

2 RECOMMENDATION

2.1 The committee is asked to note the current workload and content regarding claims/applications to modify the Definitive Map & Statement, and to create, divert or extinguish public paths.

3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 There are no financial implications at this stage, but Members should be aware that if objections are received (and sustained) to future Definitive Map Modification (DMMO) and Public Path (PPO) Orders, and are not withdrawn, resulting in a Public Inquiry, the Council is required to bear the associated costs.

4 THE REPORT

4.1 DMMO applications

The following provides brief details of all Definitive Map Modification Order applications received by this Council (for which a statutory duty exists to determine the application) and current progress on each application.

Parish/Ward

Date Application Received

General Information

Current Position

Bath (The Tumps)

April 2006

Add footpath to Definitive Map and Statement

Possibility agreed in principle with a landowner for permissive path to be created whilst waiting for the application to be considered. Council Property Team contacted as path will connect to Council land - ongoing discussion.

Bath (Dransfield Way)

28/11/00

Add footpath to Definitive Map and Statement

Being considered at Committee January 2008

Batheaston (Solsbury Hill)

22 Sept. 2004

Application to add footpath to Def. Map and Statement

Application received, site inspected.

Landowners have been contacted. Further attention required.

Bathampton (St. Nicholas Court)

03 Sept 2003

Addition of public footpath between Holcombe Lane & Holcombe Vale across St Nicholas Court.

Order and objections are to be submitted to the Secretary of State for determination.

Bathampton Mill

13/11/07

Addition of public footpath across car park of Bathampton Mill to river Avon

Several old documents referred to - no further action taken

Chew Stoke

20 January 2004

Addition of public footpath along Chew Lane.

DMMO to be abandoned in favour of a Path Diversion Order (see Path Order no. 4 in table below)

Clutton, Maynard Terrace

20/10/07

Addition of public footpath across fields south of Maynard Terrace

Site visited, no further action taken.

Compton Dando (Tucking Mill)

5th September 2006

Public Bridleway to be recorded between Tucking Mill, Compton Dando to Court Farm, Marksbury

Evidence being looked at and a site visit has been made.

Freshford, off Midford Lane

27/04/07

Addition of public footpath across field by Midford Lane

No action taken

Keynsham (Cinema Site)

11 June 2003

Addition of public footpath across car park behind ex-cinema site.

The Order and objections are to be sent to the Secretary of State for determination

Norton Malreward (CL15/11)

31/03/98

Delete bridleway CL15/11 from Definitive Map and Statement

No order made - attention required

Paulton

(Candlegrease Lane/Church Lane)

06 December 2004

Addition of public footpath between The Pithay and Church Street, along an ancient lane known as Candlegrease Lane.

14 witness statements received. Some historic evidence available.

Witnesses to be interviewed.

Peasedown St John (BA19-17)

16/04/04

Upgrade footpath BA19-17 to bridleway

Evidence to be assessed

Peasedown St John (BA19-19)

16/04/04

Upgrade footpath BA19-19 to bridleway

Evidence to be assessed

Saltford, Iford Close

25 March 2004

Addition of public footpath leading from Bath Road to Iford Close.

Order made, no objections received. Order can now be confirmed by the Council.

Shoscombe, bridleway upgrades

16/04/04

Upgrade footpaths BA19-33, BA23-23 and BA23-44 to bridleway

Evidence to be assessed

Wellow, Weavers Farm

 

Addition of public footpath

Order made 5/2/2003 with one objection. This path will now be formally dedicated by the landowner on the condition that two nearby paths are diverted by the Council - see Wellow diversion below.

4.2 PPO applications

The following provides brief details of all Public Path Order applications received by this Council and the current progress on each application.

 

Location

Date Received

Proposal

Progress

Camerton (Camerton Farm)

29/11/2005

Diversion of footpath BA4/55

Order to be made shortly - in hands of Legal Team

Charlcombe, (Penn Hill)

Proposal made by Bath & NE Somerset Council

Diversion of footpath BA5/31

Awaiting dedication agreement of a footpath to be finalised by Legal Team to enable Order to be confirmed (the sole objector set dedication of new footpath as a condition for the withdrawal of his objection) - in hands of Legal Team.

Chew Magna (Smoke Acre)

Proposal made by Bath & NE Somerset Council

Diversion of footpath to avoid steps/steep slope. CL3/74

Order has now been made, no objections received. Once kissing gates are installed Order will be confirmed.

Chew Stoke (Chew Lane)

Proposal made by Bath & NE Somerset Council

Diversion of footpath CL4/25 in lieu of a DMMO

Informal consultations have been carried out with no objections. The Council is now in a position to make an Order once a report has been written and authorisation has been granted.

Chew Stoke, Church Farm

11/12/2006

Diversion of footpath CL4/19 in interest of landowner

Order to be made - initial objections have now been withdrawn

City of Bath (Bath University)

08/02/2001

AQ210 - diversion of footpath due to construction works

Order made 25th May 2005. No objections. Order will be confirmed once work on new path is complete. Reminders have been sent.

Clutton (Willow Farm II)

Proposal made by Bath & NE Somerset Council

CL6/4 - diversion of footpath onto walked alignment

Informal consultations have been held - no objections received. Report to be submitted to Head of Service for authorisation to make the Order.

Clutton, Scrap Yard

Proposal made by Bath & NE Somerset Council

diversion of footpath CL6/34

no action taken

Combe Hay (Fullers Earthworks)

06/03/2006

Diversion of footpath BA7/1

Submission Documents have been prepared for the Secretary of State for determination - to be sent a.s.a.p.

Compton Dando, Allen's Brake

Proposal made by Bath & NE Somerset Council

Diversion of footpath BA8/22

no action taken

Compton Dando, Common Wood

Proposal made by Bath & NE Somerset Council

Diversion of footpath BA8/76

no action taken

Farmborough, Barrow Vale Farm

Proposal made by Bath & NE Somerset Council

Diversion of footpaths CL9/36 & 40

no action taken

Hinton Blewett, Abbott's Barn Farm

08/07

Diversion of footpath CL12/9

Inaccuracy in path alignment on application form - this has been pointed out to applicant. No further action taken.

Nempnett Thrubwell (Henmarsh Farm)

26/06/2006

Extinguishment of footpath CL14/45

The Ramblers' Association have objected - their local representative is to discuss the matter with the applicant at a site meeting before further action is taken.

Norton Radstock (Camerton Landfill Site)

29/11/2005

Diversion of footpath CL24/65

Order to be made - in hands of legal team

Norton Radstock (Chilcompton Road)

01/02/2005

Divert unrecorded footpath to allow development to take place

The Planning Inspectorate has just confirmed this order, which will come into effect once works to create the new path have been completed.

Norton Radstock (Ludlow's Farm)

29/11/2006

Diversion of footpath CL24/67

Order to be made - in hands of legal team

Norton Radstock (Manor Farm)

08/02/2006

Diversion of footpaths CL24/90 and CL24/91

Order made. No objections were received against the order, which will come into effect once works to create a new path have been completed.

Norton Radstock (Vale House, Writhlington)

13/11/2000

Diversion of footpath CL24/89. Also diversion of Mendip DC path FR6/35 Foxcote

The Order will be confirmed once work on the new path is complete. The farmer is to install a new kissing gate as a part of these works.

Norton Radstock (Welton Grove)

28/05/2002

Diversion of footpaths CL24/28 & 29

Consent to be gained by applicant from affected landowner before matter can be progressed

Paulton (Polestar, Church Street)

15/12/2004

Diversion of footpath CL16/2 under TCPA 1990

Planning permission has now been granted - an authorisation report is being written with a view to making an Order in the new year.

Publow, Woollard

 

Diversion of footpath CL17/22

Planning Inspectorate has authorized serving notice on unknown landowner by means of notice placed on site. No objection to informal consultations. Authorisation report to be written.

Publow, Church Farm

Proposal made by Bath & NE Somerset Council

Diversion of footpaths CL17/17 & 18

no action taken

South Stoke, Bridge Farm

25/04/2007

diversion of footpath BA22/17

Order made 05/09/07 - 2 objections received. Considered at committee Jan 2008

Stanton Drew, Heathers

02/05/07

Diversion of footpath CL18/25

No action taken - adjoining paths also need diverting & further investigation is required.

Stanton Drew (Stanton Wick Lane)

Proposal made by Bath & NE Somerset Council

Diversion of footpath CL18/15 to improve safety at intersection with road.

Order Confirmed 18th July 2007

Stowey Sutton, Stowey Bottom

Proposal made by Bath & NE Somerset Council

Diversion of footpath CL20/8

no action taken

Timsbury, Wallmead House Farm, Lippiatt Lane

21/07/2006

Diversion of footpath CL21/3 from busy farmyard to adjacent field

Works complete on new path - matter sent to Legals for confirmation

Wellow (Brook Lodge)

24/03/2005

Diversion of footpath BA25/21

A site meeting was held in November 07 with the applicant, affected landowner and tenant. Several issues need to be resolved before proceeding. Further contact required.

Wellow, Upper Hayes

09/01/2007

Diversion of public bridleway BA25/16 around edge of field

No objection at informal consultation stage. Council to pay for epitome of title to allow conditional dedication agreement to be drawn up by Legal dept.

Wellow, Weaver's Farm

09/01/2007

Diversion of footpath BA25/14 away from bounds of private residence

No objection at informal consultation stage. Council to pay for epitome of title to allow conditional dedication agreement to be drawn up by Legal dept.

West Harptree (Bungalow Farm)

Proposal made by Bath & NE Somerset Council

Diversion of footpath CL23/1

no action

West Harptree (Lower Gurney Farm)

17/03/2005

Diversion of footpath CL23/37 away from farm

Application received 17/03/05, Ramblers and Parish Council contacted. Further meetings held with landowner to discuss proposed new route. New route to be agreed

5 PATH CREATIONS

5.1 Conditional Path Dedication agreements are being drawn up for land at Church Farm, Chew Stoke and at Weavers Farm, Wellow

5.2 The dedication of a Restricted Byway across a public footpath over the new trading estate by Peasedown St. John bypass (behind the Mercedes Benz showroom) is being negotiated.

6 HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS

There are no Human Rights implications to be considered from this report.

7 RATIONALE

This report has been submitted to keep Members informed of the current position with regards Definitive Map Modification Order work.

8 RISK ASSESSMENT

8.1 No option exists for the Council to disregard duly made DMMOs. Local Authorities are under a statutory duty to consider and determine all applications made within the provisions of section 53 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Committee is required to consider all DMMO applications regardless of whether or not objections are received during consultation.

8.2 The making of PPOs is discretionary to the Council. The Assistant Director for Environmental Services, Matthew Smith, currently has delegated powers to make such Orders.

9 CONSULTATION

9.1 Relevant consultations are carried out as part of the consideration of each individual case.

10 CONCLUSIONS

10.1 It is hoped that this report will provide Members with an overview of the current position regarding Public Rights of Way Order work, and will provide an awareness of possible forthcoming decisions to be taken by the Committee.

Contact persons

Stuart Higgins (PROW Technician) - PPOs

Alan Harbour (Definitive Map Officer) - DMMOs

Background papers

No background papers accompany this report.