Footpath No. 4 alongside Tesco

Following years of myself and others seeking improvements to the footpath which passes through the recently constructed Persimmon housing development behind Market Deeping’s Tesco store, significant improvements could be on the cards.

The Planning Inspectorate have now issued an interim decision relating to the future of the footpath. This follows the public inquiry held in August at which two legal orders the County Council wanted to be confirmed were considered.

The current legal route of the footpath has been illegally obstructed by the houses built by Persimmon. The County Council’s two orders would change the legal route to match an alternative route that Persimmon provided and that is what exists currently.

The Town Council, myself, and others, objected to the legitimising of Persimmon’s poor route and have sought a better route, pointing out that it would be possible to have the footpath as per Persimmon’s own plans which would allow for a wider, more direct route.

The inspector proposes to confirm the orders subject to modifications which would correct various drafting errors but, more significantly, change the narrowest section of footpath between Tesco and Jubilee Drive from a 1.4 metre tarmac path to a 2 metre wide tarmac path.

The width of this section was a key concern. The County Council’s orders would have seen this being 1.7 metres in width but with only 1.4 metres of that actually with a tarmac surface. In his interim decision, the inspector expresses his concern about the limited width, saying the pinch point it represents “is pronounced given the generally more open nature of the remainder of the path”.

However, actually achieving the greater width remains in some doubt.  As the interim decision notes, “the Council states that it does not have the funds to undertake the additional surfacing works and attempts will be made to secure funding from the developer”.

On how this situation arose, the inspector has said, “I have seen nothing from Persimmon to explain why the footpath has been obstructed in this manner”. This perhaps illustrates Persimmon’s lack of care about this footpath and so it might be optimistic to expect them to voluntarily pay towards improving it.

If this can be delivered, it would though represent a 40% increase in the tarmacked width of this section, a significant improvement that will help to make it more convenient to use.

Myself and others have raised concerns about the nature of the section joining the Tesco section with the new path through the Persimmon development. I’m pleased to see the inspector say that he shared the concerns about this section. At the rather late stage of August’s inquiry, the County Council agreed to modify this to make it safer to use. This will see a better designed, more gradual ramp between the different levels.

The modifications to the orders will be subject to consultation, providing an opportunity for all to comment on the new proposals.

I will await the advertisement of the modified orders for consultation and will then consider to what extent the modifications address the concerns I’ve raised. A key consideration will be whether the modifications can actually be delivered and so I will be looking to see what response there may be from the County Council, Persimmon, and other parties.

Whilst this has been and continues to be a long and slow process, I am pleased to see the inspector acknowledge the validity of many of the concerns raised about this illegal footpath diversion and pushing the County Council to make improvements. As the inspector says about the County Council’s last minute changes, “it would have been helpful if the Council had made the concessions earlier”.

I am doubtful as to whether the County Council would be agreeing to improve the path if it wasn’t for the persistent efforts to stop them legitimising such an inappropriate diversion. It is a shame that it has taken a public inquiry to see them acknowledge its faults.

But if, and it does remain if, the greater width and improved ramp can be achieved then it will have been worth all the work that has been involved. I extend my thanks to all those who have supported these efforts but offer special thanks to those who spoke in support at the inquiry including Councillor Ashley Baxter, Councillor Phil Dilks, and local residents.

The Planning Inspectorate’s interim decision should be published on their website shortly.