BathNES Council’s footpath committee voted unanimously on Monday to recommend that a footpath in Bathwick be recorded and that the fence erected in the middle of it be removed. This recommendation is passed to the Secretary of State to confirm the decision. The wide footpath from the old quarry in Bathwick to Combe Down has existed, undisputed for a century. However, a neighbouring landowner had enclosed part of its width with a six foot timber board fence, forcing the path into a narrow muddy track. Known as AQ78, the path has been the centre of a local row since January 2000.

Bathwick Cllr Nicholas Coombes proposed the motion at the Regulatory & Access committee on Tuesday. It was seconded by the Chair that the council recommends that the full width of the footpath be recorded. Pending the Secretary of State’s ruling, the council’s footpath team intends to order the fence be taken down. This will not only restore the historic width of the path, enjoyed by local walkers until recently, but will also allow its intended conversion into a cycle path, funded by Bath University.

“This is great news,” says Nicholas Coombes, “It’s taken a lot of time and effort by the council and local campaigners to get this far. I’m glad to have helped and moved us to the final stage. Soon this locally important footpath will be available to walkers, wheelchair users prams and cyclists to enjoy.”

The alley linking St Christopher’s Close with the Warminster Road has been resurfaced and trimmed following action by local councillor Nicholas Coombes. He noticed the state of the path soon after his election last year and started the long process of persuading the council to adopt the path and  maintain it. A local resident tells Cllr Coombes that her husband had asked the previous councillors to fix the path 17 years ago without success and that generous locals had been looking after the path since. It has now been added to the council maintenance schedule.