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| Stone Formation Archive 1995 |
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 Stone Formations news, views, gallery and archive brought to you by Weird Wiltshire Introduction Latest News News Archive Stonehenge Stonehenge Project Stonehenge 360 Avebury Saviours Stones Village Solstice Wayland Smithy Long Barrow Woodhenge Gallery Summer Solstice Gallery 2002 Summer Solstice Gallery 2004 Postcards Wallpaper Links  |
First published on March 2, 1995 MOVES to build an all weather surface footpath between a village and a housing estate have been met with scepticism following a row between locals and the county council. Residents in Avebury have been incensed by Wiltshire County Council's decision to build a footpath for tourists between Silbury Hill and Longbarrow at West Kennett along the A4 at a cost of £20,000. Villagers have been conducting a long running campaign for a footpath to be built between Avebury Trusloe and the village, which would prevent them having to walk along the main A3641 Swindon to Devizes Road. "It is not a good use of public money to be spent on a path that may be of use on any one day or so, while people need to walk to the village to get to the school, the shop and the Post Office, every day," said John Cronk, Avebury parish Council chairman. County Coun Graham Francis, said the two issues were separate but was able to offer villagers some hope for the future. "The funding for the Silbury Hill footpath came from the planning and environment committee which is responsible for the environment and looks after the needs of tourists. A footpath for Avebury would be the responsibility of the Planning and Highways Committee. I am extremely sympathetic to the needs of villagers in Avebury and I have initiated talks with Planning and Highways," said coun Francis. He said that he had received a letter from George Batten, assistant director of the planning and highways department, saying that there were existing rights of way between the village and the estate, and a footpath could be constructed along them. "These could be upgraded to provide an all weather surface. They are now looking at upgrading these as a possibility," said coun Francis. But coun Cronk was sceptical. "In my opinion, I don't think it is possible to make a path there. It is pasture land, and there are water meadows. It is often flooded in winter time. An all weather surface would just be inundated by water," said coun Cronk, adding that such a route would not be so direct as a proper footpath along the A3461. Back to 1995 index |
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