Cllr Hilary Power has spoken with Elaine Bowman from North Somerset Council who is dealing with our application to have the 'Jubilee Stone' track designated as a footpath. You will remember that we submitted 100+ statements to support our application. Unfortunately Elaine has advised Cllr Power that with the volume of work and other applications we are unlikely to have a decision soon. In fact, we may have to wait a year or more. This is very disappointing. However, we would like to be clear that Elaine has been very helpful throughout the process and it is only her lack of resources that has prevented her from dealing with our application yet. Important - if you did not make a statement when we first started the process, you still can. Anything you can tell us about your use of the track across the field between Cherry/ Piggy Lane and the [...]

You will be aware that the landowner of the field adjacent to the Jubilee Stone has removed the gate which provided access to the field. This is to stop people using the path which runs across the field down to Piggy Lane. Whilst this route has been used by walkers for many years it has never actually been a Public Right of Way (PRoW). Backwell Parish Councillors are aware of the strong feelings in the village about the loss of this much loved path and other paths around the field. We are supporting an application to North Somerset Council (NSC) for the footpaths to be designated as PRoWs, which everyone can use, now and in the future. To support the application we need witness statements about the use of the paths. Any period of time is relevant, but we would particularly appreciate your statement if you have used the paths [...]

Many of you will be aware that the landowner of the field adjacent to the Jubilee Stone has removed the gate which provides access to the field. This is to stop people using the (unofficial) path which runs diagonally across the field down to Piggy Lane. Whilst this route has been used by walkers for many years it was never an official footpath and the landowner wants to stop walkers damaging crops and trespassing. Backwell Parish Council are aware of the situation and are currently liaising with North Somerset Council and the landowner to try and find a legally satisfactory solution, which might allow residents to continue to use the (unofficial) path possibly as a permissive path. In the meantime, please bear with us and continue to use the official pathways.

We are looking into this matter. In the meantime, please could we remind residents to use the official footpath around the perimeter of the field.

Rights Of Way Improvements List for 2022