Footpath Diversions
Aug 29th, 2009 by David
United Utilities have written to Diane Holroyd as follows:
Go Ape are diverting 85m of the footpath at the school end within the next few weeks which will divert the public away from some sections of wall which are in disrepair. In areas adjacent to the footpath we may dismantle areas of the wall where there are points where visitors cross regularly. In other areas of disrepair we may choose to stabilise the wall by clearing loose stone and mortaring the remaining top stones in place.
Of course, the path would not be in a state of disrepair were it not for the presence of Go Ape. Two questions present themselves:
- Why are Go Ape diverting the footpath when their planning application stated that the development would not require any alterations to pedestrian access? You can see the original application here.
- Will the diverted path be in the area of the dangerously low zip wire? If so, are Go Ape tacitly admitting that the zip wire is dangerous in its current position?
[UPDATE] The plan for the footpath diversion is now available here. And yes, the diversion does go around the low zip wire that we identified as dangerous back in March. We don’t believe the diversion is anything to do with the disrepair of the wall. Another case of Go Ape/United Utilities/Chorley being economical with the truth?
Also note Matt Taylors use of ” concessionary path”.
I`m convinced that it`s all to do with that zip wire now,and saw a very near miss this afternoon with a Go-Ape client and group who were watching .
Health and safety counts for nothing and when I saw another section of wall damaged my opinion is that is had been done deliberately.
The whole thing is now stinking, from my point of view and heads should roll and people are accountable and should stop passing the bl***y buck.
Shame on Chorley council and United Utilities I am disgusted.
The people of Bolton have free and uninterrupted use of Lever Park so we can continue to use the old path, being careful not to trip over the stones, and should anyone on the Go-Ape zip wire hit us then we can sue for loadsamoney. Go-Ape will go bankrupt and cease trading. It’s nice here in cloud cuckoo land – come and join me.
Diane says that she is disgusted and I am sure a lot of people feel the same way. But I don’t think the word “disgusted” is strong enough to describe the way United Utilities and Chorley Borough Council have behaved in this matter. I thought I lived in a democracy but it seems more like a banana republic.
Laughs to my self Ann ,I daren`t put what I actually wanted to put as it would be VERY offensive to the parties concerned!
Well I`ll climb over any barriers they put in my way as I`m exercising MY right to free and interrupted enjoyment of Lever Park as covered by the 1902 Act come what may!
The email address to voice concerns over the path and walls etc is:
matthew.taylor@uuplc.co.uk
Does Matt Taylor think we came in on the banana boat?
At least have the decency to give the real reason for the footpath diversion, I don’t suppose it as anything to do with the fact that the zip-wire needs lowering at the landing stage.
Because as it is, the course is a joke (Thomas the Tank engine goes faster). If anyone gets a buzz out of that course, they are really desperate.
So Matt, if you and any of your colleagues are reading this, please cast your eyes over the statement made by go-ape on their Town and Country planning application form.
Section 6, question 5,
Do the proposals require any diversions:
Answer by go-ape NO.
If the answer is yes, please show details on your plans/drawings and state the reference.
Seeing as they didn’t show any diversions on the plans, can you give a justifiable reason as to why you are co-operating with go-ape in the diversion. Which according to the Town & Country planning application form which was submitted with the plans didn’t require any change of route.
The monkey and the organ grinder spring to mind, or is it the pied piper.
Well I emailed Matt Taylor again and had a reply from Neville Kidd asking for a hard copy of my email-Why can he not just print the email off=hard copy?I think they are just trying to put us off so I`ll do as he asks and will send him the letter and send it registered post to ensure it doesn`t conveniently get lost.
We have just been walking the dogs and not a notice regarding the diversion to be found….perhaps the wind has blown them away or they are having problems with the legality of what they were about to do.Let`s hope it`s the latter!
I have just walked past the bottom half of the course and seen the new foot path and small bridge near to Rivington school. I also noticed another new path coming down from the main bridal way to one of the zip wire landings.I think after a few good down pours of rain not much will be left of said paths! As I said to my husband no expense spared to which he replied no expense full stop!
So far the original path is still open…how long for is anyones guess.