Minutes from the meeting: July Werneth area Committee 2015

This is a cut and paste blog post.
Just the minutes from the meeting for those who are following the bridleway/footpath debate.

* * * * * * *
Members of the public were invited to put questions to the Chair of the Area Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Area Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice.
 
Five public questions were submitted as follows:-
 
·         Relating to the proposal to rescind an order for the creation of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate and whether there were plans to canvass the views of users of the current footpath; assess the extent to which pedestrians would be displaced off the footpath should horses be permitted to use it; and how any risks associated with such a proposal would be managed.
 
In response, it was stated that that there had been consultation with the Friends of Chadkirk and the Stockport East Area Bridleways Association.  Although a consultation had not been carried out on the basis suggested by the questioner, members confirmed that they were aware of the potential conflicts between different users of the footpath.
 
·         Relating to the proposal to rescind an order for the creation of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate and why the Stockport East Area Bridleways Association had not been notified that an item had been placed on the agenda for the meeting relating to the proposal.
 
In response it was stated that in accordance with the Code of Practice, the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be requested to respond to the questioner in writing within seven days.
 
·         Relating to the proposal to rescind an order for the creation of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate and why other stakeholders such as the British Horse Society and Natural England had not been consulted on the proposals and that the Area Committee should defer consideration of the proposals pending such a consultation taking place.
 
In response, it was stated that members considered that they were sufficiently aware of the various issues surrounding the proposals and consequently did not consider that it was necessary to defer consideration of the item.
 

Bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate  PDF 73 KB
• View the background to item 5.
To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.
 
The report details a proposal for the Area Committee to give further consideration to the dedication of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate, as marked A to B on the plan attached to the report.
 
The Area Committee is recommended to
 
(1) Reconsider the dedication of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate, marked A to B on the attached plan given the considerations listed.
 
(2) Support the creation of an extension to the existing pedestrian footpath to in improve accessibility (E to F on the plan).
 
(3) Comment on the proposal to permit equestrian access to route (G to H on the plan) or to retain the route for pedestrians only.
 
(4) Acknowledge the need to improve visibility at two points (K and M on the attached plan).
 
Officer contact: Ian Walmsley on 0161 474 4382 or email: ian.walmsley@stockport.gov.uk
Additional documents:
• Enc. 1 for Bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate , item 5.
 PDF 2 MB
• Plan , item 5.
 PDF 326 KB
Minutes:
A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal for the Area Committee to give further consideration to the dedication of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate, as marked A to B on the plan attached to the report.
 
RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to the rescission of that part of the resolution made by the Area Committee at its meeting on 10 March 2014 with regard to the ‘Dedication of bridleway and footpaths on land owned by the Council on Chadkirk Estate, Bredbury and Romiley’ and pertaining specifically to the dedication of a bridleway over the route between points A-B as detailed on the plan attached to the report.
 
(2) That the remaining element of that resolution pertaining to the dedication and creation of a footpath between the points E-F as detailed on the plan attached to the report remain extant and the Area Committee’s support and approval for this be reiterated.
 
(3) That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be recommended to investigate whether it would be feasible to widen the existing footpath, marked G-H on the plan attached to the report, to permit equestrian access.
 
(4) That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be recommended to investigate the introduction of measures to improve visibility at the two points marked K and M on the plan attached to the report.