Cow Lane is an important amenity for the Grove community. This lane provides access to the countryside for horse riders, cyclists, pedestrians and walkers of dogs. If the future large-scale housing development goes ahead on Grove Airfield, it will provide an invaluable green escape for residents.
It is therefore important that we all do our best to maintain this by-way. Over the last few months, I have taken up a number of issues with the lane. First of all, the sign at the entrance was damaged. Initially, it had been uprooted - possibly knocked over by a vehicle - and lay discarded in the hedgerow (left photo). Then, after some of the hedgerows had been cut back it was retrieved, but stood in a sorry bent state without any foundations (middle photo). I can happily report that, after much chasing, a new sign was recently installed (right photo).
Another issue was the discovery of a fly tip of asbestos a little way down the lane. I know that residents had reported this many weeks ago, but nothing had been done by the authorities. I got on the case and although I was reassured that it would be removed swiftly (as any toxic waste should) it was there every time that I went to check. Suffice to say, that after much perseverance the waste has at long last been removed.
Finally, I was very disturbed to discover on one of my walks that the track to East Hanney (just past the sewage treatment works) has been blocked by the dumping of a mound of earth as shown below.
Finally, I was very disturbed to discover on one of my walks that the track to East Hanney (just past the sewage treatment works) has been blocked by the dumping of a mound of earth as shown below.
This has obstructed the right of way and we have been investigating where this material originated. I have requested that it is removed as soon as possible and that the track is restored to its rightful state. Watch this space.
There are a large number of piles of earth and stone blocking that path, has been since at least the spring. Its a nice walk except it gets so wet just north of the railway line its.fairly impassable most of the winter. How about some of your grant money is used for adding a crushed limestone surface to that area?
ReplyDeleteIf you read the last 2 paragraphs and see the photo above, this is the blockage I am referring to and which has to be removed.
ReplyDeleteYes it would be a good idea to add a more hard surface to cover the wet area, but unfortunately my grant money cannot be used for this purpose. The Highways Grant is specifically for highways and safety projects and the Big Society Fund is for community and voluntary groups. I am hoping that we may get some developer funding towards improvements for this countryside amenity.
It's not obvious this time of year, but there is a very 'healthy' colony of hemlock along the trackway near the obstruction. (It's very like cow parsley, but is one of our most poisonous native wild plants.)
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