This week, the South Ribble Council held two meetings, with key decisions made during the Regulatory Committee meeting on Wednesday, 26 June 2024. The Full Council meeting scheduled for Thursday, 27 June 2024, was cancelled.

Regulatory Committee Meeting - Wednesday, 26 June 2024

The Regulatory Committee focused on several applications related to public rights of way in Lancashire. These included diversions of footpaths around domestic and industrial properties, upgrading a footpath to a bridleway, and modifying the definitive map of public rights of way.

Definitive Map Modification Orders

Addition and Deletion of Bridleway at Junction with Procter Moss Road, Over Wyresdale

An investigation into whether a section of bridleway had been incorrectly drawn on the definitive map concluded that a drafting error had occurred. The committee voted to correct the map:

The reasonable conclusion from the evidence was that no public right of way existed between B-C, and that a simple drafting error due to the small scale of the maps and close proximity of the routes had resulted in the Bridleway being drawn along B-C instead of the correct route A-X-B.

Upgrade of Footpath to Bridleway, Threagill Lane, Warton

An application to upgrade a footpath to a bridleway was accepted. The route had been shown on maps since 1830 and connected to other public highways:

Committee were informed that the route had been shown since 1830 on numerous maps and that it connected to a network of other public highways.

Existence of Public Rights along Chapel Street Court, Poulton-le-Fylde

Following public representations, the committee investigated the status of Chapel Street Court and resolved to add the route to the definitive map:

User evidence provided collectively confirmed use of the route A-B-C by the public as a public footpath going back to 1945.

Public Path Diversion Applications

Diversion of Footpath at Little Bluestone Cottage, Mawdesley

The committee agreed to divert a footpath running close to a private home for reasons of privacy and security:

The proposed diversion was considered expedient in the interests of the owners of the land for reasons of privacy and security. Little Bluestone Cottage was a private, residential property.

Diversion of Footpaths FP0113036 and FP0113037 at Ellel Quarry

An application to divert a public right of way away from the working area of Ellel Quarry was approved. An amendment to re-route the path for better views was defeated:

After being put to the Vote, the Motion was Lost.

Proposed Diversion, Extinguishment, and Dedication of Public Paths at Height Barn Farm, Bacup

The meeting concluded with an application to divert a public right of way through a working farm, which was accepted. The new route will pass through pasture and Moorlands Park, removing it from the vicinity of the farm and residential property:

Height Barn Farm was a working farm. Currently the public bridleway and footpath ran on the access road to the farm and through the centre of the farm.

For more details on the decisions made, you can refer to the Regulatory Committee meeting transcript.