Footpath frustration Anger over route delays

THERE is frustration over lack of progress in clearing a “horrendous” backlog of footpath applications in Gloucestershire - with some waiting 20 years for a case to be dealt with.

- Carmelo GARCIA Local Democracy Reporter

Gloucestershire County Council unanimously agreed last September to ask senior officers to report on the backlog of cases and ways of clearing the applications for modificatios to the definitive map. This map is the legal record of public rights of way in England and Wales.

Councillors also asked leaders at the time to consider increasing the funding to resolve more cases.

However, public rights of way campaigner Chas Townley is frustrated over the apparent lack of progress. He has been waiting 20 years for an application to be processed.

"What is going on? Feels like this isn’t 'Action this Day' as Churchill would often write in his responses to civil servants. More like his ‘V’ sign reversed.

"Who runs this charabanc of a county council?

"At the moment it looks like officers are running it at a snails pace.