01/10/2025
Statement by West Row Parish Council.
In order to provide context and correct some misinformation, the Parish Clerk would like to provide the following facts, regarding recent comments made on Facebook about public rights of way in the village:
Firstly, the footpath that connects Mildenhall Road (near the junction with Jarmans Lane) and Chapel Road, officially known as “Mildenhall Footpath 7”, is currently in the process of being surfaced by a contractor working for Suffolk County Council. This is to make it more useable year-round, and more suitable for those with mobility issues, young children, users with pushchairs, etc.
This work is connected to the nearby housing developments; it forms part of a number of works that are required as a condition of the planning permissions, and the entire cost is being paid by the developers. There is no taxpayer money involved, and the Parish Council does not know the cost. In the future, two new paths will be added (also at developers expense) at the top and bottom of the adjacent field, which will connect Footpath 7 with the housing developments to the west, and form a walking loop. All those routes will then be legally upgraded to shared pedestrian/cycle paths.
Secondly, the “bridleway” sign that was recently erected at the north end of the above referenced path was done by Suffolk County Council in error. The route is, and always has been, a footpath only.
This has been re-confirmed to us today, 1st October 2025. There is no public right for horses to use the route. Suffolk County Council have told us that they will correct the sign.
Thirdly, regarding the historic footpath between Pollards Lane and Weston Ditch, this matter is entirely unconnected to the works being carried out on Footpath 7. During a review of public rights
of way in the parish a few years ago, that was undertaken to meet a statutory deadline, evidence was seen that suggested that the route was a public footpath. The Parish Council then applied to
Suffolk County Council, who are responsible for such matters, requesting them to investigate this further, on the basis that if it is possible to reopen historic public footpaths, it will benefit the village by providing additional routes for exercise and recreation. However, from the outset we have recognised and made very clear to all that in order for the footpath to be useful, and to protect the homeowners and farmers who would be negatively affected by it, it would need to be legally re-routed before being brought back into use. Unfortunately, this cannot happen until the historic right
has first been confirmed. Mr. Hammond, an affected homeowner, attended a meeting at Suffolk County Council on 22 nd July
2025, where the matter was discussed. At the meeting, after considering a report that extensively reviewed the evidence, the County Council agreed that the route is a public right of way and should be recorded as such. Also at that meeting, Mr. Hammond was told by Suffolk County Council officers that: “If an order is confirmed the County Council will work with all the parties to seek a diversion on to a suitable alternative route” and “I can reassure that we wouldn’t be looking to enforce [the historic route] until we had found and confirmed a diversion”. The Parish Council welcomes and accepts these reassurances, and looks forward to finding a solution that diverts the route away from residential properties entirely.
Any parish resident who has further queries on these matters is warmly invited to attend the next meeting of the Parish Council, to be held on Wednesday, 15th October at 7:00 p.m. in the Old Bowls Club, Beeches Road.
