The Development Control and Regulatory Board of Leicestershire County Council met on Thursday, 9 January 2025, and resolved to make an order to divert parts of Public Footpaths E53 and E54 at Edmondthorpe.

Diversion of Public Footpaths E53 and E54 at Edmondthorpe

The Board considered an application to divert parts of Public Footpaths E53 and E54 in Edmondthorpe, as detailed in the Report to DCRB - 2647 - FINAL document. The application, submitted by Mr. A.J.P. Pochin, sought to divert the footpaths from their current routes, which pass through the garden of Church Farmhouse and along the driveway of Stoneycroft, to a new route that would avoid these private areas.

The primary reasons for the diversion, as outlined in the applicant's submission, were to improve privacy and security for the occupiers of Church Farmhouse and Stoneycroft. The existing route of Footpath E53 runs close to the windows of Church Farmhouse, and the driveway of Stoneycroft is used by the public to access Main Street, a section of which is not formally recorded as a public highway.

The proposed alternative route for Footpath E53 would depart from the existing path in a pasture field and lead to Main Street via a new kissing gate. Footpath E54 would be diverted to connect with this new route. The applicant, represented by Louise Duffin of Fisher German LLP, stated that the diversion would provide a like-for-like alternative route and would be more accessible, removing a stile and a steep slope.

During the consultation period, the Leicestershire Footpath Association (LFA) raised an objection, arguing that the proposed diversion would be less convenient for walkers wishing to access the village or the wider footpath network from the village. They suggested an alternative route along the western side of a boundary wall, but officers noted this would involve significant engineering work and potential issues within the Edmondthorpe Conservation Area.

Officers from Leicestershire County Council's Environment and Transport Department recommended that the order be made, concluding that the diversion would be in the interests of the landowner and would not be substantially less convenient to the public. They noted that the new exit point onto Main Street would be approximately 160 metres from the existing exit, adding about two minutes to the walking time for some journeys. The Leicestershire County Council Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) policy D2 was cited, which supports moving paths from working areas or curtilages where proposals do not reduce the likely use of a path, other than for specific safety issues.

The local member, Mr. J. T. Orson CC, supported the officer's recommendation. During the meeting, a member suggested the addition of a waymarker sign at point C on Plan No. 2647/a, to which officers agreed to give consideration. Reassurance was provided that clear signposting would be in place at both ends of the diverted section to prevent the public from using the old route.

RESOLVED: That an Order be made under Section 119 of the Highways Act 1980 to divert Public Footpaths E53 and E54 at Edmondthorpe as shown on the Plan No. 2647/a appended to the report.

The meeting also included standard procedural items such as the confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting, question time, and declarations of interest, none of which involved substantive discussion or decisions.