County councillors are able to give a short speech at the meetings of the County Council on constituency matters, and the text of the speech I delivered today is reproduced below:
Colleagues
Our consideration of Rights of Way issues in Nottinghamshire is not fit for purpose. We have a situation in Bramcote where a long-established Right of Way has been closed. The Right of Way is on Moss Drive in Bramcote. The closure has the effect of denying pedestrian access to a scout camp and other parts of Bramcote that local people like to visit.
Literally hundreds of people have protested and have filled in the Rights of Way forms confirming that the route has been used consistently for many, many years. Our MP has also written to the County Council asking for action. But we are told that the current capacity of the County Council for dealing with Rights of Way issues is such that it will take many years before this matter can be dealt with. In the meantime, many people are being inconvenienced.
There is also a safety issue. When the owners were requested to open the way to ensure emergency access to a firework display on the scout campsite on November 5th this year, the owners refused to do so. This was despite some 3000 people attending the event.
Please, please, can we find a way of dealing with this issue more rapidly?
Stan Heptinstall
Colleagues
Our consideration of Rights of Way issues in Nottinghamshire is not fit for purpose. We have a situation in Bramcote where a long-established Right of Way has been closed. The Right of Way is on Moss Drive in Bramcote. The closure has the effect of denying pedestrian access to a scout camp and other parts of Bramcote that local people like to visit.
Literally hundreds of people have protested and have filled in the Rights of Way forms confirming that the route has been used consistently for many, many years. Our MP has also written to the County Council asking for action. But we are told that the current capacity of the County Council for dealing with Rights of Way issues is such that it will take many years before this matter can be dealt with. In the meantime, many people are being inconvenienced.
There is also a safety issue. When the owners were requested to open the way to ensure emergency access to a firework display on the scout campsite on November 5th this year, the owners refused to do so. This was despite some 3000 people attending the event.
Please, please, can we find a way of dealing with this issue more rapidly?
Stan Heptinstall