The Rights of Way Sub-Committee convened to discuss and approve the diversion and extinguishment of footpaths affected by construction projects. The committee approved orders for the part diversion of Footpath 55 Coychurch Higher and the part extinguishment and part diversion of Footpath 58 Maesteg. Additionally, the minutes from the meeting held on 11 April 2025 were approved.

Footpath 55 Coychurch Higher

The committee authorised the Chief Officer Legal and Regulatory Services, HR and Corporate Policy to make the necessary order to partly divert Footpath 55 Coychurch Higher to the route shown on Appendix B of the Public Reports Pack, and to confirm the order, provided that no objections or representations are made within the prescribed period, or if any are made and then withdrawn.

This decision was made to facilitate the construction of a solar park and ancillary development, as permitted by planning consent DNS/3279521 at Ty'n y waun, Heol Y Cyw, Bridgend CF35 6HL.

The committee also authorised the Chief Officer Legal and Regulatory Services, HR and Corporate Policy to forward the order to the Welsh Government for determination, if any objections received are not withdrawn. The order excludes any section of the diversion which utilises highways maintainable by Bridgend County Borough Council, as public rights already exist over them.

The committee recommended to the Rights of Way Manager, Andrew Mason, that arrangements be made to straighten a blind corner noted as part of the site visit.

During the consultation process, three representations were received:

• Les Meachin of the Ramblers Association raised no objection.
• St Brides Minor Community Council stated they had no objection to a temporary diversion of Footpath 55, but that it must revert to its original definitive path when the project ends.
• South Wales Police made recommendations regarding pedestrian routes, including that they should be visually open, direct, well-lit and overlooked by surrounding buildings, and that vehicular access should be prevented.

The applicant stated that, subject to landowner permission and prior consultation with the local highway authority and community council at the time, they would seek to make an application for the diversion upon decommissioning.

Footpath 58 Maesteg

The committee authorised the Chief Officer Legal and Regulatory Services, HR and Corporate Policy to make the necessary order to partly extinguish and partly divert Footpath 58 Maesteg, to the route shown on Appendix B to the Public Reports Pack, and to confirm the order, provided that no objections or representations are made within the prescribed period, or if any are made and then withdrawn.

This decision was made to facilitate the construction of a new building for training and office space alongside access, parking, landscaping and drainage infrastructure works as per planning consent P/22/71/FUL on land east of Siderise Insulation Ltd, Forge Industrial Estate, Maesteg CF34 0AH.

The committee also authorised the Chief Officer Legal and Regulatory Services, HR and Corporate Policy to forward the order to the Welsh Government for determination, if any objections received are not withdrawn. The order excludes any section of the diversion which utilises highways maintainable by Bridgend County Borough Council, as public rights already exist over them.

The committee further requested that a request be made to the landowner to ensure the cleanliness of the highway.

During the consultation process, four representations were received:

• Councillor Ross Thomas, a local member, raised no objection.
• Maesteg Town Council gave their support.
• Wales and West Utilities had no comment.
• South Wales Police made recommendations regarding pedestrian routes, including that they should be visually open, direct, well-lit and overlooked by surrounding buildings and that vehicular access should be prevented.

The council responded to South Wales Police, stating that the purpose of the proposed order is to divert the footpath onto an existing permissive cycle path which is already constructed and available to the public. They added that there is currently no proposal to install any physical restrictions to prevent motorcycles as such measures would potentially also restrict people with mobility vehicles and families with pushchairs, etc, but that this can be monitored.

Approval of Minutes

The committee approved the minutes of the Rights of Way Sub-Committee meeting held on 11 April 2025.