Residents living on Juniper Drive in Allesley Green are furious at plans by the Council to reroute a public right of way. It currently runs through the middle of a field in Allesley Green but would move to the side of the field alongside homes on Juniper Drive. They’ll also create a new access point on Juniper Drive – punching a hole through an existing hedgerow.
The new right of way would bring walkers close to the rear of properties on Juniper Drive for the first time. Residents are worried that it could create more traffic and compromise the security of homes.
The Council insists that the proposal will help the landowner to maintain farmland more effectively. However, residents fear it’s intended to make the land easier to develop by removing the existing right of way which runs through the middle of the field. Despite denials from the local authority, a master plan posted on the Council’s website shows that the proposed new right of way correlates to the location of new highways planned to support house building plans.
The residents have recruited the support of their ward councillors in Woodlands ward - Peter Male, Gary Ridley and Julia Lepoidevin. The councillors are objecting to the proposals and have set up a petition.
Commenting on the news Cllr Peter Male said; “This proposal will create a new right of way running alongside the rear of properties on Juniper Drive. It’ll create a new access point from the highway by cutting through an existing hedgerow. This sleepy close could soon be attracting a large number of motorists parking up to access the route.”
Fellow woodlands councillor, Cllr Julia Lepoidevin said; “At the moment the right of way runs right through a field. There’s no evidence that huge numbers of walkers have demanded this change or that they are causing damage to the field. However, it would be easier to sell and develop the land if the right of way ran alongside the field rather than through the middle of it.”
Also supporting the residents, Cllr Gary Ridley said; “We’re supporting a petition and objecting to these plans. Residents are rightly concerned that a new pathway will bring walkers very close to the rear of their properties. This doesn’t just impact on their privacy but raises legitimate concerns about security too.”
Visit: https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/Petitions to register your support and find out more.