Father asks county council for safer walkways in village
An avid walker claims the countryside walkways in Ashington have become ‘impassable’ in the last few years.
Ed Jowett is pleading with West Sussex County Council to improve Ashington’s ‘mud entrenched’ walkways before it gets worse.
The 37-year-old said: “I’m a dog owner, so I use the footpaths on a daily basis.
“We have three main pinch points for residents to cross over into the nearby fields, but for the last few years they’ve become impassable because of the wet weather we’ve been experiencing.”
The ‘pinch points’ Mr Jowett refers to include the access through to America Wood and Kissing Gate that he said are ‘entrenched in mud’.
He said: “The council have a legal obligation to make sure people have access through these walkways.
“If people are frail or disabled they’re losing their right of access.”
Ashington bridle ways have recently been resurfaced with specialist gravel for easy access.
Mr Jowett claims you cannot access these bridle ways unless you trek through the walkways.
He said: “The council aren’t getting the full value of their investment.”
Ina response to Mr Jowett’s letter of complaint, Tom Weedon, rights of way access ranger, said: “Resurfacing works have to be prioritised across the entire county and it is difficult to undertake all the requested works with the limited funding that is available for such tasks.”
Ashington Parish Council clerk Karen Dare said: “West Sussex County Council is responsible for public footpath maintenance, the parish council simply pass residents’ concerns to them.”
Email to a friend
Print this page- Brighton and Hove Albion training ground extension approved, despite flood fears
- Big hearted Craig, 24, has given life to others
- Preview: Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion FC - play-off semi-final
- At the Vets: Going on holiday? Make sure that your pets have a good time too
- EXCLUSIVE: New flight paths from Gatwick could affect thousands in Sussex
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for West Sussex
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 12 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
