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We propose to use this page to bring to your attention current issues concerning the rights of way network in or near our territory. If you come across any problems on the routes it will be helpful if as well as reporting them to the County Council, as below, you also let us know at aldevalleyramblers@gmail.com
TEMPORARY PATH CLOSURES - Details of current closures can be found on the County Council's list:https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/public-rights-of-way-in-suffolk/traffic-regulation-orders/temporary-traffic-regulation-orders/
REPORTING PATH PROBLEMS
Here in the east of Suffolk, we are relatively fortunate in having a largely well-maintained and signed network of footpaths, bridleways and byways to use for our walking.
However, problems do arise - some difficult or long term, others easily dealt with. Our footpaths committee is very interested to learn of any problems that you do encounter. We may already now about them but that does not matter - please tell us what you find. It is also important that you report problems to the County Council. This is easy to do. Just go on-line and go to:
You may wish to include the path number in your report, you can find this by looking at the working copy of the Definitive Map: https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/public-rights-of-way-in-suffolk/view-definitive-maps-of-public-rights-of-way/
Otherwise, another good way of finding the path number is to use ROWMAPS. You will need first to have GoogleEarth loaded on your computer. Go to the ROWMAPS site: http://www.rowmaps.com/kmls/SK/
Then click on the link to "augmented KML file for Suffolk". After a few seconds, you will see the entire Suffolk rights of way network overlaid onto GoogleEarth. Zoom in to the place you want and then by clicking on to any path, you will find its full reference number in this form: SK|E-103|013/1
The first bit is Suffolk/east. Next is the parish number (103 is Aldeburgh), then the path number and last the status of the path (1 = footpath (red), 2 = restricted byway (green), 3 = bridleway (mauve), 4 = byway open to all traffic (blue)). Some of the status figures have not been entered and may show a zero. However, the path's status accords with its colour, as indicated above.
Please tell us about the problems you find by e mailing:
CURRENT MATTERS AFFECTING THE RIGHT OF WAY NETWORK OR OPEN SPACES IN OUR TERRITORY:
Bentwaters – (Wantisden) – The expected new path around the eastern end of the old airbase still does not appear to have been created.
Boyton – claimed path through Boyton Wood near St Andrews Church - This path has now been added to the Definitive Map.
Framlingham Footpaths 1, 83 and 84 (Mount Pleasant) – These Orders have now been confirmed. They include an extinguishment but, overall, will improve the footpaths to the south by making part of the diverted path field-edge and not subject to seasonal ploughing. In the future there may be a joint-use cycle track. We are not objecting as the proposal as it is in-line with the representations we made at the planning stage.
Sizewell C – The Examination into this nationally significant infrastructure project has now been completed and the result is awaited.. 12 foot-crossing closures on the East Suffolk line were threatened had the rail-led option been chosen. Our volunteers paid site visits to all those in our Group territory and Ipswich Group volunteers visited those in their patch. We made detailed observations and objections to the proposed closures. We have urged that should consent be granted, many general improvements to the rights of network be financed by planning gain.
Sizewell B Power Station Complex And Adjoining Land, Sizewell, Power Station Road, Sizewell, Leiston (DC/19/1637/FUL) – we objected to this planning application on the grounds of loss of woodland and open space. We also urged that should permission be granted, conditions be imposed that the development cannot commence until/unless a Development Consent Order is in place in respect of the Sizewell C proposals and that where the diverted bridleway 19 crosses the new access road along Sandy Lane there be a zebra or other crossing affording priority to equine, cycle and pedestrian traffic using the bridleway.
Planning Permission was granted on 13 November. There were 33 conditions and in many respects the permission was outline rather than full. One of the conditions reads “Prior to first use of the vehicular access onto Sizewell Gap Road, a new unmanned crossing point is to be provided on Sizewell Gap in a location and to a design to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority in conjunction with Suffolk County Council Local Highway Authority. This doesn’t seem to be what we asked for but looks to be of some benefit to walkers.
East Anglia ONE North and East Anglia TWO - ScottishPower Renewables – Substations at Friston and cabling between there and Thorpeness -
Scottish Power Renewables are proposing to bring the cabling ashore at Thorpeness and to site the huge sub-stations at Friston. The projects are what are now known as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. The formal applications for DCOs (Development Consent Orders) have been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate and the Examinations has now been completed.
Suffolk Ramblers registered as an interested party and made responses. We believe the siting of the proposed substations is inappropriate. However, if the development is approved, we have argued for rights of way improvements in the general area by way of planning gain similar to those we have argued for in respect of Sizewell C.
Part of The Ramblers' Association, a company limited by guarantee, registration number 4458492
Registered Charity number 1093577