Developers close Public Right of Way without permission

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 10th Jul 2006

Stephen Lloyd, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Eastbourne and Willingdon has taken up complaints by local residents that a developer has exceeded its authority by arbitrarily closing a public footpath between Wannock Avenue and The Grove at Willingdon and that the temporary private one provided by them could be dangerous to use.

Stephen said, "I was horrified to learn that the public footpath has been blocked by the developers and that they have annexed land not even owned by them. Although they have provided a new footpath on their land the way they have constructed it means that women and young children using it cannot be seen from the road and it has to be inherently dangerous.

This is not the way that any developer should behave and I am staggered that neither the County nor District Councils seem prepared to take effective action to ensure that this developer follows the rules.

I have written to the Chief Executives of both Councils asking them to take action immediately to return the public right of way to use. I am also asking the Chief Constable to intervene because I believe the actions by this developer has caused a potential danger to the children using Willingdon Primary School and Pre-School Play Group.

County Cllr Roy Martin said "The developer, Starglade of Crowborough, has been allowed to block up a public right of way. I am demanding an immediate explanation from both County and District Councils. The law should apply the same to everybody."

Parish Cllr Bob Hillman added "I have received a lot of complaints from residents who have suggested that this developer is not following the rules. Although Starglade has received planning approval to build on this land they still have to meet the numerous conditions imposed on them. They certainly do not have the right to move public footpaths willy nilly or indeed to pinch land owned by parishioners of Willingdon and Jevington. The temporary footpath they have provided is so narrow that Mums with pushchairs would not even be able to pass. If there is an incident or injury to anybody using this unofficial path I want to know who will be held responsible. It is totally ridiculous."