Footpath Upgrade
The footpath between the War Memorial and the Coffin Walk gate is overgrown and the surface uneven and broken up. It is unsuitable for wheelchairs and parents with pushchairs, and for anyone with mobility problems.
This path is regularly used by residents and visitors between the old part of the Village and the bus stops, and between Overseas Estate, Leonards Cove and Blackpool sands and the Village Shop, the Green Dragon and the church.
We were excited at the prospect of a resin bonded, granite cobble edged path all
the way. This was supported by the church PCC and seemed to have found favour with the Diocesan Advisory Committee until the intervention of the South Hams planning Department. The
planning officer visited the site and was adamant that this scheme would require a full planning application based on an architect’s drawings and a structural engineer’s advice etc
etc. This would clearly mean another long delay and a lot of extra costs. The issue seems to be that a slightly wider path in a different material counts as a ‘new’ path and is thus
subject to all the latest regulations. This is even more the case for the sloping section which at present resembles a stony rut more than a path.
However, he also said that, without planning permission, we were allowed to
‘tidy up’ and ‘repair’ the existing path. In reality this means trimming back the overgrowing grass and laying more tarmac on the first tarmac section from the war memorial, and laying some
shingle on the sloping section (but without using machinery to bed it in) to create a rather more even and safer surface.
The PCC is happy to support whichever option FoSP (which is paying for
the project) should choose. Subsequently the FoSP Committee regretfully decided to abandon the full scheme (at least for the present) and go for the immediate ‘repair’ option with a view to
improving the path before the onset of winter. Ali Girardot, on behalf of the PCC, is already working on obtaining quotations from suitable contractors. We are very grateful to her,
and to all who have worked so hard on this project.