Cheshire East Council confirms Manor Drive as new public footpath

Cheshire East Council’s public rights of way committee unanimously approved plans to recognise Manor Drive as a restricted byway between Nantwich Road, Kerridge Close and Buckley Close at Monday’s meeting.

Sam Richards, whose home sits close to the entrance of Manor Drive at Nantwich Road, told councillors the posts that were erected last August should be maintained to ‘stop traffic chaos’ and protect her home.

She explained that ‘nobody would accept responsibility’ for the ‘near-daily occurrence’ of lorries turning outside the property – having repeatedly urged CEC to take action – before the posts were put up.

Sam said: “We are not questioning the right of way – what we want to do is just leave the gateposts in that we have built.

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“We have got no problem with people walking through here, but if we remove the gateposts like is being suggested then lorries will again start turning in this entrance.

“And as well as starting to damage my property again, these lorries will pose a greater danger for people who are using the walkway.

“The lorries are under immense pressure to turn around because they have got the traffic backing up and beeping at them and they have got ambulances queuing under the bridge to get to the hospital.”

Sam told the committee that she and husband Mike spent more than £3,000 repairing their original gateposts after they were knocked over by a lorry, while vehicles turning in the driveway had churned up the land and moved the couple’s kerbstones.

The couple paid £6,000 to put up the gateposts having been told by CEC that they could do so under permitted development rights – but they was later informed they would need to submit a planning application after the council received complaints about the posts, Sam said.

She added that the couple’s original plan was to install a gate between the posts, but ‘having listened to public opinion’ on the footpath, the pair decided against it.

John Bayley, of the Middlewich Public Rights of Way group, submitted the request for a public right of way in 2017 following an article about the issue in the Guardian.

He said: “This publication had an enormous impact on the local community, causing much anxiety and a serious drop in morale.

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“We strongly feel that Manor Drive should be recognised as restrictive byway to bring a sense of calm to the neighbourhood, to put minds at rest, to restore morale to its original levels and to help residents carry out their daily lives without intimidation.”

John told the committee that 128 objections had been sent to the Richards’ planning application, while more than 200 people had signed a petition against it.

In recommending to councillors that Manor Drive should become a public right of way, Jennifer Miller, definitive map officer at CEC, told councillors there had been ‘regular, continuous and long-term use’ of the route by pedestrians and cyclists.

Asked what that would mean for the gateposts, she added: “My understanding is that they would have to come out because they would be where the right of way is – they would be an obstruction to the right of way.”

However, Sam claimed the opening between the new gateposts is wider than the old set at 3.45m, while a 1.44m walkway has been left to the side – which is more than twice the width of Manor Drive at its narrowest point.

CEC officers will measure out the new public footpath before deciding the fate of the gateposts.

The committee accepted the issue surrounding the gateposts was not in its remit, but called for a resolution that would satisfy both pedestrians and the Richards family.

Cllr Liz Wardlaw, Conservative, said: “It would seem that this has caused some disconcertion in Middlewich and some animosity that perhaps could be quelled.

“I would just ask those responsible for making this decision to bear that in mind when they come to the gate issue.

“It would seem that there is a willingness on all parts to have the right of way instated and it looks like an ideal place to have that right of way.

“What also equally seems sensible is to not have HGVs turning around on a public right of way where children think they are safe and cyclists go down, there are children on bikes, dogs and things like that.”

Cllr Hazel Faddes, Labour, added: “We want people to walk, we are thinking of the climate.

“I hope it can come to an agreement and I really hope there is no animosity in Middlewich because it is such a shame when you are close neighbours.”

Comments on the planning application are being accepted until Thursday.

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