Issue - meetings

To consider a report on the Council entering into a Creation Agreement for a new Public Bridleway in the Parish of Bollington.

The Chairman reported that he had received a letter and photographs from Hilary Beech and a letter from Andrew Roberts, copies of which had been circulated to members of the Committee.

The Committee received a report which detailed a proposal to establish a bridleway to connect Redway in Kerridge to an existing public bridleway in Rainow parish and for the Council to enter into a Creation Agreement with the landowners who had agreed to dedicate the route as a public bridleway.

Under section 25 of the Highways Act 1980, the Council had the power to enter into an agreement with any person having the capacity to dedicate a public right of way.  The Highways Act 1980 required the authority to have regard to the needs of agriculture and forestry, and to the desirability of conserving flora, fauna and geographical and physiographical features.  Under section 25 there was no statutory right for objection to the proposal.

The majority of the route ran along an existing concrete track over which ran public footpath no. 17 in the town of Bollington.  Following a site meeting in October 2008, attended by the landowners of the proposed route, lessors of the land either side of the proposed route, adjacent landowners who have a right of vehicular access along the concrete track, a Public Rights of Way Officer from the former Cheshire County Council, the North West Regional Bridleway Officer from the British Horse Society and the Project Manager of the Kerridge Ridge and Ingersley Vale Countryside and Heritage Project, it was agreed that a 90m section of the proposed route would be created away from the track in order to avoid a tight and steep corner.  Further concerns about safety would be addressed through the provision of a verge alongside the concrete track onto which a rider could move should a vehicle approach. 

RESOLVED:

That a Creation Agreement under Section 25 of the Highways Act 1980 be entered into with the appropriate persons with capacity to dedicate to create a new public bridleway in the Parish of Bollington, as illustrated in Plan No. HA/009/Outline, and that public notice be given of these agreements.