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Footpaths - B Helps
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Footpath Report
November 2021 Click here
July 2021. Click here
February 2021 Click here
November 2020. Click here
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November 2019 Click here
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October 2017 Click here
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Reports by C Elliott
March 2017 Click here
November 2016 Click here
Report for Annual Parish Meeting 2016 Click here
September 2015 Click here
July 2015 Click here
November 2021 Click here
July 2021. Click here
February 2021 Click here
November 2020. Click here
August 2020. Click here
January 2020. Click here
November 2019 Click here
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February 2019. Click here
November 2018. Click here
September 2018 Click here
July 2018. Click here
May 2018. Click here
April 2018. Click here
March 2018. Click here
October 2017 Click here
July 2017 Click here
Reports by C Elliott
March 2017 Click here
November 2016 Click here
Report for Annual Parish Meeting 2016 Click here
September 2015 Click here
July 2015 Click here
Download 14 April 2015 report
The Easton Royal Footpaths Upgrade Plan
The Parish Council has set an objective to upgrade the footpaths in the Easton Royal to allow better access for everyone to enjoy the countryside. We have sought the help of Wiltshire Council and have had a lot encouragement and advice from the Wiltshire Rights of Way Officer, Paul Millard.
It is worth beginning by saying who is responsible for what with regards to rights of way. Landowners have a duty to allow free access on rights of way crossing their property, such as providing styles across boundary fences, not ploughing up the path and keeping hedges trimmed back along paths. The surface of the paths themselves are the responsibility of Wiltshire Council, They will do as much as they can in Easton Royal but they do not have the resources to do every path, so Easton Royal Parish Council have decided to do as much of what remains as possible on a self-help basis.
We have put together a plan to make significant improvements to the footpaths over the next year as follows:
1. Wiltshire Council will cut back the vegetation along Harris Lane later this month. When they do their next road resurfacing in the area, they will divert the surface planings to Harris Lane to produce a level all-weather footpath. This should be complete by next spring and will be a huge improvement.
2. The principle landowners have all kindly agreed to cut back overhanging vegetation on paths across their land this winter. Seven villagers have generously volunteered to adopt individual paths as ‘wardens’ and to keep the growth low next year by self-help mowing. If that proves too great a task for an individual, Hew Helps has agreed to cut back some remaining vegetation using his quad bike and trailer mower. Fingers crossed, this should produce a pleasant grassed surface on many paths in several years.
3. Totteridge Farm have kindly agreed to consider providing a 'permissive path' along the edge of their land running behind the houses on the south side of the main road. This will join up the two footpaths leading away south from the main road and be much more pleasant for walkers than using the side of the main highway. Ben Higham has kindly volunteered to be the warden of this stretch and will be organising a works party to clear the undergrowth.
4. Finally, we are going to create a circular path around the village which will allow much better access to the countryside for the less athletic by replacing some existing styles with wooden kissing gates. Easton Royal Parish Council has earmarked £300 for the materials to do this from the Village Precept, with a further £300 coming from the Rights of Way Fund and another £600 applied for from the Area Board. Paul Millard from Wiltshire Council will supervise the work and there will be a call for volunteers to help by giving up half a day over a weekend in November.
The Parish Council is open to all other ideas for other improvements, but please do volunteer where you can to make them happen!
Easton Royal Parish Council