ANGRY residents who fought and won a battle over public rights of way across farm land at Culcheth claim they are now the victims of vindictive retaliatory action.
Hedges have been “massacred”, a dangerous barbed wire fence erected and rubbish has been left piled at the side of paths.
Now the residents, who have sought advice from the Ramblers’ Association, are calling on Warrington Borough Council to take action over what they see as breaches of footpath regulations.
It was only in May that residents were celebrating after a planning inspector ruled that footpaths which had been used for more than 20 years were, in fact, public rights of way.
The paths ran across farm land owned by Peel Estates between Culcheth Hall Drive and Withington Avenue but were ploughed over by a tenant farmer.
Residents complained – and the borough council decided they had been used for more than 20 years and, as such, were public rights of way.
Peel Estates appealed against the decision but after a public inquiry, an inspector ruled in the council’s favour and ordered that the footpaths be reinstated.
Residents were delighted and said an attractive walk through a wooded area and along a stream had been preserved as a valuable amenity for Culcheth.
But now they say the findings of the public inquiry are being flouted.
Hedges at the rear of houses in Culcheth Hall Drive have been cut back and in some cases uprooted and a four feet high barbed wire fence erected along the footpath which runs behind the houses.
One resident said: “I have walked the path at the back of Culcheth Hall Drive. What a mess!
“Huge tree branches, easily 10 inches in diameter, have been ripped off and the tree limbs left in a ditch. Shrubs have been hacked back, uprooted and left lying there. I had to move some to get passed.
“The barbed wire fence is dangerous – particularly for children – and the designated path is too narrow.
“In another area left-over tree trunks, soil and rocks, etc. have been piled on an existing hawthorn hedge.
“I can only see this as an act of total vindictiveness to make things awful for walkers and for the environment.”
A spokesperson for Warrington Borough Council said: “Following an initial site visit, further inspections will be taking place to determine if highway laws have been breached and any potential future action will be discussed with the tenant.”
The barbed wire fence - and the remains of a hedge
Residents’ fury over “massacre” of hedges
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2 Comments
“land owned by Peel estates”
This is an example of obscene destruction to the natural habitat. Was Peel Estates purpose in trying to deny the public right of way to make future housing development on this site easier?
Though it is not illegal to cut back hedges at this time of year it is not good practice – they have in doing this destroyed the winter food source and habitat of birds and other wildlife.
In addition to the Rambler’s Association I would suggest Culcheth residents contact the RSPCB and RSPCA – even if just to record a black mark for Peel Estates.
Most certainly report this destruction (including photo’s) to Natural England and also Defra because if Peel Estates have been claiming Environmental Stewardship grants these organisations would certainly be interested to know how Peel are in fact operating with regard to ‘good practice’ – or as in this case NOT.