A COUPLE who say they have been forced to install gateposts to stop lorries using their driveway have responded to a sea of objections from members of the community, who fear they are now blocking a well-used footpath.

Mike and Samantha Richards have installed gateposts closer to Nantwich Road, in Middlewich, to stop lorries from turning outside their home as they approach the low bridge at the aqueduct.

But walkers claim that the land in question is a public right of way – with residents having used it to walk between Nantwich Road and the estate surrounding Kerridge Close for decades.

And Cheshire East Council has now received more than 100 objections to a planning application which would give the couple consent to beef up protection to their property.

In a post on the Middlewich Community Group on Facebook, Samantha said: “As most Middlewich residents know, our driveway has been used for many years by lorries who have ignored the low bridge signs to turn round.

“This has caused considerable damage to our property. Last time the gateposts were knocked over, the quote to replace them was over £3,000.

“I have taken this matter up with the council and my MP but nobody is prepared to do anything to stop the lorries turning round in my drive.

Northwich Guardian:

Residents have campaigned in the past for improved signage at the aqueduct

“Since the new gateposts have gone in the problem has stopped. I have seen lorries on several occasions having to reverse back down the road as they were unable to turn.”

Mike and Samantha have been plagued with lorries turning outside their home since they moved into the property more than three years ago.

Speaking to the Guardian in 2017, Mike suggested that altering the front of the property was ‘the only option’ the couple had to resolve the problem, and claimed they ‘sometimes wonder why we moved here at all’.

CEC does not yet recognise the site as a registered public right of way, but it has received an application for it to be recognised as a public bridleway.

Objectors say they have used the passage as a safe route towards the town centre for many years – suggesting the route has been used for longer than the 20-year period required by law for a pathway to be recognised as a public right of way.

In an objection sent to CEC, town councillor Chris Jones said: “This has been used as a public right of way for decades.

“There isn’t a footpath along Nantwich Road to the bottom end of Brynlow Drive and this is the only safe route.

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“School children use this route and it is not acceptable to remove the only safe route available to them.”

In her Facebook post, Samantha insisted that her ‘intention from the start’ was to maintain access for pedestrians – and a gap has been left to the side of the gateposts for walkers to access.

“We realise how important this access is to the residents on the estate,” she added.

But some walkers insist the solution is not safe – and that the driveway should remain untouched.

In an objection submitted to CEC on Monday, Middlewich Public Rights of Way group said: “We certainly sympathise with the situation regarding wagons and lorries reversing on the land at the front of the lodge and the council should be looking to an alternative solution to this problem.

“However, the driveway is not owned by the residents since it has been a public right of way for more than 100 years – Section 31 of the Highways Act 1980 supports this fact.

“A gap around the side of the gateposts for people to walk through is not acceptable since this completely destroys the original identity of the public right of way and it should be returned to its original status.”

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CEC is expected to make a decision on the planning application by November 12.

To view the plans, search for ‘19/4060N’ on CEC’s planning website.

Mike and Samantha Richards have been approached for comment.