Step further down path to end dispute
Article printed in the Driffield Times 12/01/2004
driffield today archive source
If ERYC succeeds in its bid to add the path to the Definitive Map, then the public will legally be allowed to use the route - ending a long-running dispute with local landowners who say that the land is private and the public are not allowed to have access.
At Tuesday's meeting of the full Driffield Town Council, the issue took another step forward as members agreed to support the proposals put forward by ERYC engineers.
"This is something that we definitely support," said the mayor of Driffield, Coun Steve Poessl.
The town council will now formally respond to ERYC's consultation by saying that they approve of the proposals.
The proposals have also received the backing of Trevor Stone, spokesman for the Driffield Navigation Trust (DNT).
Along with other members of the DNT, Mr Stone hopes to develop the Driffield Navigation as a tourist attraction.
He said that having access to a path along the canal bank was a crucial part of being able to use the waterway again.
And at their meeting, also on Tuesday, DNT members agreed that they would also let ERYC know that they support the plans.
"We are particularly bothered that we can get and retain access to the canal," said Mr Stone.
"Quite a lot of people think that we are only bothered about boats but that is not at all true.
"We want the canal to be a major feature of the town - we want to see boating, walking and other leisure activities down there.
"The canal played such an important part in the history of the town and it is a pity that it is denied to people now.
"We have been working to make it more accessible and more open and getting that footpath opened up will be a major step forward," said Mr Stone.
The path has been the subject of controversy for many years.
Many members of the public believe the path is, and always has been, a right of way - with campaigners claiming that the Registry of Deeds proved there was a cart track that the public had every right to use.
So many walkers have continued to use the route.
But local landowners have continued to object to people walking over what they claim is private land.
The path was not included on the Definitive Map when it was published in 1968.
But ERYC says it has evidence that the path has been used by the public for 20 years - and therefore the legal requirements of the Highways Act 1980 are met.
In its consultation documents, the council says: "Having considered all of the available evidence, the council is satisfied that the public footpath subsists or is reasonably alleged to subsist.
"It is the view of the council, therefore, that it is requisite that a definitive map modification order be made to add the footpath to the Definitive Map and Statement."
A year readers indicated their views on this website. Surfers were asked, 'Should the canal cart track be upheld as a right of way?'
A staggering 93.75 per cent of those who voted said yes.
No-one at all answered no - the remaining 6.25 per cent who responded said they did not care.
12 January 2004