AN application to divert a scenic footpath in Barningham for safety reasons has been rejected.
Sir Edward Milbank had hoped to divert a right of way that passes through the grounds of his family home in Barningham Park because of a spike in rural crime. But his bid was turned down following a number of objections lodged during a consultation.
Among those to object were Barningham Parish Meeting, the Open Spaces Society and residents from the village.
Sir Edward said there had been a number of break-ins in rural areas in recent years and Barningham had also been affected. He added: “There have been four [break-ins] in the last year or two. At the moment we have a gate that we can’t close because of the footpath.”
For the consultation period the diversion route was made a permissive footpath.
Sir Edward said it would have been made a right of way had the application been successful.
However, the parish meeting argued that the path through Barningham Park, known as Raspberry Lane, has significant historical importance for the village.
Parish clerk Robin Brooks said: “It is colloquially known as the Coffin Road of Funeral Walk. This suggests that the path was used historically to carry the dead for burial at Barningham and is very long standing.
“That it connects Barningham to Newsham, which itself has no church, and that it terminates at its western end opposite the gateway to St Michael’s Church, adds credence to this.”
The parish meeting also said the proposed diversion was not as enjoyable as the existing route because it did not have the same woodland and scenic views.
This view was echoed by the Open Spaces Society.
Jo Bird, Teesdale correspondent for the society, said the path was unique in the area in that it offered both woodland and expansive views stretching from Teesside up to the high Pennines.
Ms Bird said: “The views from it are spectacular. It is unusual for woodland paths to offer good views, let alone such sweeping views as this one offers. By contrast, the route proposed for the path loses all the woodland features, and while the meadow path is not unpleasant, it is, by comparison, just another meadow path, and with the views from it being much less extensive, than those enjoyed from the current path.”
John Mcgargill, Durham County Council’s highway development manager, said: “We received an application to divert a public footpath at Barningham and carried out consultations, with a number of responses received.
“Having considered the proposal and the responses, we have informed the applicant we are unable to support the application and that it will not be taken forward for consideration by our highways committee.”
