HAMPSHIRE AREA of the

PATH BLOCKERS – EASTLEIGH BOROUGH AREA

PART OF THE RAMBLERS’ ASSOCIATION Registered Charity No 1093577, part of The Ramblers' Association, a company limited by guarantee, registration number4458492 – Registered Office 2nd Floor, 89-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW

DOCUMENT COMPILED AND MAINTAINED BY RICHARD KENCHINGTON, 2 Pavilion Close, Fair Oak, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 7PS Email: [email protected] Telephone (023) 80693655 (Mobile 07929213208)

LAST UPDATED 24 DECEMBER 2018

BRIDLEWAY 724 BISHOPSTOKE

REFERRAL BY THE HAMPSHIRE AREA TO HEAD OFFICE FOR PROSECUTION OF BELLWAY HOMES

The Bridleway runs from Stoke Common Road, Bishopstoke (4717 1999) north east and then east to Stoke Park Farm and then south east to the boundary between the parishes of Bishopstoke and Fair Oak and Horton Heath (4816 2000) where it connects with Bridleway 729 Bishopstoke and Bridleway 24 Fair Oak and Horton Heath.

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The above map is an extract from the on-line mapping produced by Hampshire County Council and available at http://localviewmaps.hants.gov.uk/LocalViewmaps/Sites/ROWOnline/

The Statement accompanying the Definitive Map is at http://documents.hants.gov.uk/rightsofway/definitivestatement/Bishopstoke.pdf

A description of the problem or issue to be addressed is available at http://www.eastleighramblers.org.uk/20170419%20- %20BRIDLEWAY%20724%20BISHOPSTOKE%20-%20INSPECTION%20REPORT.pdf

Below are pictures of the two houses now completed on the line of the existing bridleway

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The bridleway is primarily used for recreation purposes although we have a record of one person who uses it as a journey to work route. It is shown on the OS One Inch Mapping of 1885-1900 below where red dashes have been added to indicate the route. There has been a minor diversion of the historical route in the vicinity of Stoke Park Farm where the bridleway was diverted so that it did not run between the cow sheds.

The area is one of the most attractive of areas within the Borough of Eastleigh and includes some ancient woodlands and Stoke Park Woods owned by the Forestry Commission but managed with community groups. The bridleway is entirely on vehicular farm tracks.

The development is being undertaken by Bellway Homes Wessex.

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The Eastleigh Borough Council (Bridleway No 724) Public Path Diversion Order 2016 was made on 26 May 2016 which relates to Bridleway 724 Bishopstoke See 20160526 - Public-Path- Diversion-Order-Bridleway-no724.pdf An objection to the Order was lodged by the Ramblers’ Association – see 20160615 - Head of Democratic Services, Eastleigh Borough Council.pdf Bellway Homes have submitted a revised layout with alterations to the proposed bridleway to meet objections from the British Horse Society. The Eastleigh Ramblers confirmed on 3 November 2016 that they had no objections to these amendments. For a site inspection report on the situation as at 19 April 2017 see 20170419 - BRIDLEWAY 724 BISHOPSTOKE - INSPECTION REPORT.pdf On 30 June 2017 Eastleigh Borough Council published a revised diversion and public path creation order to which the Eastleigh Ramblers did not object – See 20170630 - From Eastleigh Borough Council.pdf Bellway Homes confirmed on 9 August 2017 that they will commence construction of the new route when the Order has been confirmed. A notice was published in the Hampshire Independent on 22 September 2017 by Eastleigh Borough Council of their confirmation of the Order. The Order will only come into effect when the Borough Council confirm under Article 5 of the Order that the new rights of way have been constructed to their satisfaction. Bellway Homes indicated to the Eastleigh Ramblers that the proposed bridleway would be completed by 17 November 2017, work actually started in the week commencing 15 January 2018, RA Chief Executive sent a letter to Eastleigh Borough Council’s Chief Executive on 23 April 2018. 20180423 - Vanessa Griffiths to Nick Tustian.pdf A reply dated 11 June 2018 from Andrew Thompson at Eastleigh Borough Council to Vanessa Griffiths has been received. – See 20180611 - Andrew Thompson to Vanessa Griffiths.pdf Vanessa Griffiths sent another letter to Nick Tustian on 19 July 2018 – see 20180719 - Vanessa Griffiths to Nick Tustian.pdf and a reply was received on 9 August 2018 from Ian Austin Eastleigh Borough Council’s Legal Services Manager See 20180809 - Ian Austin to Vanessa Griffiths.pdf The proposed route has still not been constructed to the satisfaction of Eastleigh Borough Council or Hampshire County Council and so the Order has not come into effect. Alison Perry of Hampshire County Council’s Countryside Service indicated on 12 December 2018 that they were waiting for Bellway Homes to construct the 5-metre wide section of the proposed bridleway and had been in touch with Paul Bathgate of Bellway Homes who was chasing their contractors.

FOOTPATH NUMBER 2 BOTLEY

Nature of Blockage: Various sections of Heras fencing, mounds of earth and a fallen tree – see video at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxrgJpVtjBCPxWhVI9lg-CA

Unofficial Route Available: Bovis Homes have fenced off a route through their site which involves the public using the areas set aside for footways adjacent to roads which would enable the construction of houses and a school to proceed along the line of the Definitive Path.

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First reported to HCC: Hampshire County Council made a temporary closure order for the period 24 March 2017 and 24 September 2017 during which the path was fenced of and works now across the path commenced. The County Council declined to extend the temporary closure and were aware that the developers had no intention to reinstate the route.

HCC Action Taken: None as far as we are aware to insist on the restoration of the Definitive alignment.

Candidate for Legal Action: Yes, under Section 130A-D or Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980. Request made to RA Head Office to implement the procedure.

This path runs from Maddoxford Lane, Boorley Green to Chancellors Lane, Durley. A Diversion Order was published by Eastleigh Borough Council on 28 July 2018 – see 20180730 - Order.pdf Further details are available at https://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/parking-travel-and-roads/traffic- orders-and-regulations/footpath-orders Objections to the Order had to be lodged by 28 August 2018. This diversion was supported by the Eastleigh Ramblers. The Order was confirmed as an unopposed order on 7 September 2018 see 20180907 - Notice of confirmation of the Order.pdf The developers now have to construct the new routes set out in the Order and then apply to Eastleigh Borough Council for a certificate under the provisions of the Order that the new paths have been constructed to their reasonable satisfaction and then the diversion will come into effect. On 27 November 2018 Bovis Homes confirmed that they hope to complete the new routes to a standard for certification before or just after Christmas.

FOOTPATH NUMBERED 1 HOUND

Eastleigh Borough Council has received Planning Application F/18/83222 (which can be viewed at https://planning.eastleigh.gov.uk/ ) for the development of land south of Bursledon Road west of Page 5 of 6

Hamble Lane (the car boot sale site) with 200 houses which involves the diversion of Footpath No 1 Hound and the temporary closure of Footpath No 15 Hound. The Eastleigh Ramblers objected to this planning application see 20180119 -To David Huckfield.pdf Amendments were subsequently made to the application which will see Footpath No 1 Hound as diverted appropriately surfaced and Footpath No 15 Hound retained and surfaced. The scheme involves the creation of a significant area of open space and new paths within it. The Bursledon, Hound and Hamble Local Area Committee was recommended at its meeting on 22 March 2018 to grant planning consent. For the Committee report with footpath elements highlighted see 20180322 - Local Area Committee Report.pdf A planning Agreement was entered into which contains provisions relating to the implementation of the proposed footpath network and a planning consent issued on 29 March 2018. These documents are available for download by searching the documents on Planning Application F/18/83222 (which can be viewed at https://planning.eastleigh.gov.uk/ ) On 16 November 2018 Eastleigh Borough Council made a diversion order 20181116 - Diversion Order.pdf and on 22 November 2018 the Ramblers objected to the Order because of the poor quality of the Plan attached to the Order. 20181121 - To Ian Austin.pdf On 21 December 2018 a new Order was published see 20181221 - Diversion Order No 2 Footpath No 1 Hound.pdf The Eastleigh Ramblers do not intend to oppose this Order. Any objections have to be lodged with Eastleigh Borough Council by 25 January 2019. Development is already taking place on the line of Footpath No 1 Hound but a route between fencing has been provided across the site. Footpath No 15 Hound is still available although reported vegetation and drainage issues remain and improvements incorporated in the planning application have yet to be implemented.

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