ILMINSTER NEWS: Bumpy Lane is an OFFICIAL public footpath

CAMPAIGNERS hoping to have a well-used lane in Ilminster officially recognised as a public footpath have won their battle.

A long legal battle has come to a successful conclusion for the campaigners who said that the footpath – known as Bumpy Lane – at the end of Winterhay Lane had been used by people for decades up until 2012 when “private” road signs were placed at the crossroads.

A public inquiry into whether Bumpy Lane was to be added to the Definitive Map was to be held in May 2016 at Donyatt village hall, but was cancelled with the Planning Inspectorate deciding, instead, to look at written statements about the pros and cons.

Heidi Cruickshank, an inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Environment, visited the site back in May.

And she reported at the end of June that she had come to a decision that the entire length of the path had been used by the public on foot since “at lease the beginning of the 20th century.”

The four-year wrangle has led to some angry exchanges between those wanting Bumpy Lane to remain open to the public and those wanting to make it a private road.

But the planning inspector said: “The law does not allow me to consider such matters as the desirability or otherwise of the route in question.

“Concerns regarding the behaviour of individuals are not a matter for me. I would also note that the weight of numbers “for” or “against” the recording of the route is not relevant.

“Considering the evidence as a whole I am satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the Order route be recorded as a public footpath.”

A post has been installed at the site with the words “public footpath” on it to make sure that nobody has any doubts as to whether they are walking on public or private land.

Members of Ilminster Town Council will be told about the situation at their meeting this evening (Tuesday, July 19, 2016).

PHOTOS: Bumpy Lane.

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