Judith Grimwood 1st Floor Rights of Way Officer Northleigh Countryside Services Tower Street 03302226705 Chichester (01243) 777232 (Fax) West [email protected] PO19 1RH www.westsussex.gov.uk (01243) 777620

Horsham District Council District Solicitor

By Email

Our reference: JG/ CH-DLK-S25

28 August 2019 Dear Sir or Madam

Highways Act 1980 Section 25 Itchingfield/: Proposed Creation of Public Bridleway and Upgrade of Footpath to Bridleway to Improve Connection to the Downs Link at Christs Hospital

The Downs Link is one of the county's most popular off-road routes for use by walkers, cyclists and horse riders. It largely follows a dismantled railway, making it attractive for people of many abilities and age; it is especially popular for charity events. West of Christ's Hospital, users traveling from must presently divert from the former trackbed to use Mill Lane, Weston’s Hill and Christ's Hospital Road before re-joining the Downs Link to continue their journey to Southwater. This is a length of 1.6km (1 mile) and these roads, although rural in nature, can be busy and carry fast traffic, and poor visibility at bends can make safe passage hazardous.

The County Council has aspired for a number of years to improve the safety and convenience of Downs Link users. Additionally the development around has increased pressure and demand on the Downs Link as an important recreational and communicational route. There is already a bridleway (no. 3706) recorded between Mill Lane and the former platforms at Christ’s Hospital railway station. It is intended to create a 3m-wide surfaced route linking this bridleway with the station car park by utilising an existing tunnel beneath the Arun Valley railway. The land is in two ownerships and both have indicated willingness to dedicate new bridleway rights to achieve this as shown on drawings 01774 and 01776 now attached. There will be considerable cost to create such a route given the local terrain, which is to be delivered using Section 106 monies, but this is an opportunity to deliver a visionary project for the enjoyment and safety of future generations.

The County Council is able to enter into agreements to achieve the new paths and as part of the formal dedication process I write now to seek your Council’s formal view and to hear any comments that you may wish to make.

I would be pleased to receive any comments that you may have on the proposal by 25 September 2019. If I have not heard from you by then I will assume that you have no comments to make.

Yours sincerely

Judith Grimwood Rights of Way Officer

Enclosures:

Site Plan 01774 and Site Plan 01776