Just a quick update
At the eleventh hour, another relative of a previous landowner has written to the Inspector concerning the history of the usage of the proposed right of way. Although it was received slightly late, the Inspector has included it in the bundle of papers. It is a short submission, comprising a few paragraphs.
The first paragraph bemoans the waste of time, money and trees regarding this issue. Of course there is a cost to democracy.
The second paragraph is trying to right the contradictory statements that the previous landowner’s relatives had submitted last year. These earlier statements said that the landowner knew of the use of the route, saw people using it and did not seek to disturb this by asking people to seek permission first. Then, the same relative said the landowner always tried to prevent access and challenged those using it. Both statements cannot be right.
A different relative of the previous landowner now says that that the landowner used to tell people not to walk the fields “in no uncertain terms”. All very contradictory.
The third paragraph expresses the point that putting fences up effectively tells people they cannot walk the fields. As Wiltshire Council has explained, it is more complicated than that.
If anyone wants to rebut any of the above or add additional evidence not already provided to the Inspector, then they have until Wednesday 10 February to do so (citing Purton Footpath 161 will be sufficient) to:
Mr Clive Richards Clive.Richards@pins.gsi.gov.uk
