OCC – consultation – Proposed Public Path Orders under Highways Act 1980 – Great Tew Footpath No. 9 (part) & Sandford St Martin Bridleway No. 17 (part)

1. Proposed Concurrent Extinguishment of cul-de-sac Great Tew Fp9 and Creation of Connecting length of Great Tew Fp9 Under the Highways Act 1980 s.118 and s26, Great Tew Estate (ref: 03919)

 2. Proposed Diversion of Part of Sandford St Martin Br17 at Upper Grove Ash Farm, Great Tew Estate (ref: 03920)

The Concurrent Extinguishment and Creation of Great Tew Fp9

Fp9 runs from Mill Lane at Great Tew NNE across Cow Hill to South Drive track. The proposal, shown on Plan HA 1980/929/03919, shows the existing Definitive Footpath terminating in a cul-de-sac/ dead end at South Drive where there is no onward connection. Therefore, as part of the above package of changes, the Great Tew Estate is offering to provide a footpath connection across a pastoral field to, and then along, South Drive to its junction with Great Tew Br17. This new linkage will create new network connections enabling path users to travel for example either north to connect with the B4031 and onwards to South Newington village, or to walk north over Cow Hill from Mill Lane/Great Tew village and return via Br17 thereby improving convenience and enjoyment for recreational path users. The length A – B on the plan would be extinguished as this part of the route descends steeply over rough ground into overgrowth whereas the new route follows a grass track down to South Drive with a shallower gradient.

The existing section of Fp9 to be extinguished is 129m long whereas the new path along South Drive is 608m long and will have a defined width of 3m. There will be no gates along the new route.

The Diversion of Part of Sandford St Martin Br17

 Br17 (shown on plan HA1980/930 /03920) runs from the B4031 southward and then south-eastward down the steep tarmacadamed access drive to Lower Grove Ash Farm, before veering SE towards Upper Grove Ash Farm and then diverging along a grass track across two fields. It turns south and runs along the bottom of Raven Hill.

The landowner has applied to the Council to divert the bridleway away from the farm on the grounds of privacy and security and the route is described below. The existing route runs adjacent to Upper Grove Ash Farm, currently tenanted to an Estate worker. The Great Tew Estate will be re-developing the barn complex into a new dwelling, and diverting the bridleway away from the immediate vicinity of the property offers major benefits to both the current and future residents in terms of privacy and security. The Estate has sought consent from the landowner on the northern side of the B4031 so that the diverted bridleway continues directly over the road and runs behind a hedge to link with South Newington Br17, thereby increasing safety for all path users, especially equestrians. The existing southern termination of Br17 on the road will be retained.

The diversion route will begin at Point E, run along a field margin to Point F crossing the B4031 at Point G to Point H (south of the B4031) immediately east of a bin store. It then turns SE and follows an existing track (which will need further clearing) diagonally through a copse to an existing field gate (Point I). From here, the new route will follow the top of the field for approximately 200m along a 5m wide grassed route which will be segregated from livestock by a stock fence on the southern side to Point J. The barbed wire top on the existing fence on the north side of the new bridleway will be removed, as well as any over-hanging branches. Limited ground re-modelling will be carried out to remove any holes and to level the bridleway surface. This section from Point I to Point J provides elevated and far-reaching views to the S and W which are more extensive than on the existing route. The diversion prevents horse riders having to negotiate the steep tarmac surface running southwards from Point A on the current Definitive route which has no grass verge and steep sides on both sides, which it is believed is limiting horse riders from utilising the existing bridleway.

The existing gamekeeper’s stile and fence will be removed from Point J, and a gap created from which the route will turn SSE and then S and continue gently downhill for approximately 300m following the western boundary of Irondown Spinney. Again, open far countryside views are available to the SW. Some re-profiling/levelling will be necessary on sections, and the large fallen tree trunk will be removed from the line of the bridleway. The new bridleway will then cross a plateau between two valleys (with long reaching views both SE towards Nether Worton/ Hawk Hill and W across Grove Ash Farms) to a field boundary at Point L.

Once the bridleway reaches the current field gate at Point L, the livestock fencing begun at Point I would end. After passing through Point L, the bridleway turns SW and crosses a pit/old quarry which will be re-modelled and levelled, and a dead ash tree removed. The diverted bridleway will continue downhill to Point M where it joins an existing farm track. It then turns approximately S and follows the farm track for approximately 200m to Point D where it rejoins the unaffected bridleway.

The existing section of Br17 to be diverted is 691m long whereas the new route is 945m long and will have a defined width of 5m for the length south of the B4031 and 4m between Points E – F – G. There will be bridle gates at Points I and L and the route will follow a grass surface.

Before walking the proposed routes, please contact the Estate Office (01608 683 636).

 The Council has powers to make Orders to extinguish, create and divert public rights of way under sections 118, 26 and 119 of the Highways Act 1980 respectively. A diversion Order would be made in the interests of the two owners of the land crossed by the public rights of way.