Path campaigners say they should be informed of applications

Campaigners are urging the Government to give footpaths greater protection when planning applications are submitted.

The Open Spaces Society says proposals will put paths at risk if the Department of Communities and Local Government goes ahead and removes the need for applications to be publicised in local papers. In fact, says the society, authorities should be obliged to notify organisations representing path users.

The OSS was responding to a consultation from the DCLG on publicity for planning applications.

The society’s general secretary said: “Too often planning applications have a detrimental effect on public paths adjoining or crossing the site.  Although there is a requirement to advertise the fact that a planning application affects a public right of way, this is too subjective and may in any case be neglected.

“It is impractical for the society, which campaigns to protect public paths, to study all the planning applications every week.

“Therefore it’s essential that planning authorities should be required to inform organisations representing path users of any applications which affect public paths. Then we can make representations where appropriate, in order to protect the wider public interest, before matters progress too far.

“Otherwise we only hear of the proposal when it’s too late – planning permission has been granted and there’s an application to close or move the affected path.  If we object at that stage, as we are entitled to do, there is less opportunity to negotiate a solution and there will be delays while the path issue is resolved, causing stress and expense to all parties.

“And this runs counter to the government’s intention of speeding up the planning process.”

The OSS also criticised the proposal that in future applications will only be required to be posted on local authority websites rather than in local newspapers. Ms Ashbrook said: “That is severely retrograde, since many people would fail to see the notice.

“Public paths are highways in law, which everyone has the right to use, so everyone has an interest in planning applications which affect paths.  Therefore publicity should be increased not decreased.”

• Paul Partington has taken over as the OSS representative for Taunton Deane Borough in Somerset.

He replaces Christopher Watson who held the post for 13 years.

Mr Partington will be the society’s eyes and ears in the area, scrutinising proposals affecting public paths.

Paul Partington tackles an overgrown footpath

He said: “I moved to Bishops Lydeard 30 years ago and found that access to the countryside on foot from my home was limited due to illegally obstructed and cropped paths. With a young family, we had to go by car to the Quantocks to find somewhere to walk freely. That was unacceptable to me and I began to lobby for better paths, though it took many years before I began to see an improvement.

“Now I want to continue that campaign through the Open Spaces Society as its local correspondent. There are still many problems on the local paths, such as obstruction by crops, and newcomers trying to move paths away from properties on alleged grounds of privacy and security.

“I intend to continue using the public question time at Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council and the Quantock Hills Joint Advisory Committee to ask questions about public rights of way and what is being done to protect them.”

His appointment was welcomed by Kate Ashbrook. She said: “We are delighted to have Paul taking over as the society’s eyes and ears in Taunton Deane Borough. We depend on our volunteers on the ground to enable us to have a local voice.”

The 61-year-old was a power-station manager and swimming instructor. He was a member of Taunton Deane Borough Council for 12 years and is a keen walker, cyclist and swimmer.