Object

Representation ID: 10243

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Wilstead Footpath Group

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

HOU15 Land south of Wixams.
The Wilstead P3 Footpath Group object to this proposed development (HOU15) on the grounds of its impact on the Public Right of Way Wilstead Footpath 3.
Background. The Group with assistance from Bedford Borough Council (Rights of Way dept and Councillor G Coombes (Ward Fund)) and Wilshamstead Parish Council monitor and help maintain all of the Public Rights of the Way in the Parish including Footpath 3. They survey all the paths every two months and where necessary cut back overgrowth and maintain the surface of the Footpaths and Bridleways as well as installing furniture such as kissing gates, culverts and waymark posts.
The purpose of this work is to provide accessible off road routes in the countryside not only within the village but also to provide good connectivity with neighbouring communities. Wilstead Footpath 3 is one of these important recreational routes, linking Wilstead with Houghton Conquest and beyond (possibly connecting to the proposed new Kempston Hardwick settlement) as well as with numerous parts of Wixams (via its connection with the Wixams Greenways.
Way Forward. The Footpath Group understand that the effect on Public Rights of Way will not in itself mean that the development will not proceed but they want to identify the impact on these local recreational facilities, that may be overlooked, and at the same time identify how the impact of any development on these Rights of Way could be lessened.
This proposed development in HOU15 will envelope Wilstead Footpath 3 changing it from a path through open countryside, with views south to the Greensand Escarpment, to a path through housing.
The Footpath Group would propose a new path is created around the southern edge of the proposed housing (the northern part of HOU15) and on the northern edge of the proposed Country Park (the southern part of HOU15). This new path should be screened from the development by a green buffer of hedges and trees. This would ensure that some of the rural characteristics of the existing Footpath 3 are copied, especially the view south to the escarpment.
There must be potential for this footpath and the Wixams Greenways to be part of the rim of the Bedford Green Wheel, the off road / quiet lane circular cycle route around Bedford with spokes from the rim of the wheel into Bedford. Currently the route of the Wheel south of Bedford doesn’t appear to be settled
The creation of this development would also give the opportunity to investigate how Footpath 3’s crossing the A6 road on the level can be avoided.
Country Park. The inclusion of the County Park in HOU15 is welcome. This should be made Access Land similar to that created under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. This would give open access to the Country Park and give it greater protection against any future development south along the western side of the A6.
The route of Wilstead Footpath 4 through the proposed Country Park shouldn’t be effected by HOU15. However access to this Park from Wilstead would currently mean crossing the A6 on the level . Again alternative ways of crossing the A6 should be provided as part of this proposed development.
Safety. If development is permitted then the Footpath Group would be happy to work with the Developer and Bedford Borough Rights of Way to derive amended routes of Footpath 3 and 4 which would include avoiding crossing the A6 on the level. The use of an existing culvert and re-opening a former cattle creep, both going under the A6 are potential ways to do this. An alternative for Footpath 4 is a footbridge as currently the A6 runs in a cutting at this point.
Summary. Relatively minor amendments to the existing routes of both Footpaths could preserve some of the rural feeling of these paths and mean they could continue to provide good recreational routes for not only the new and current residents of Wixams but also the residents living in the arc of countryside to the south of Bedford and the A421. In light of the large amount of development planned and proposed in this area having a linked up, safe Rights of Way network in this area which avoided crossing major roads would be seen as a beneficial result of these proposed developments and go some of the way to balance the impact of these developments on existing residents of this area.