Great Cornard Crab Hill Lane dispute prompts petition - with hundreds of signatures so far

chris.morris@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 12 August 2021

Residents have launched a petition in their bid to see a village lane listed as an official public right of way.

More than 680 people have signed the online petition in less than a week after a resident put up an iron gate across Crab Hill Lane in Great Cornard, Suffolk, blocking the route.

Campaigners say the lane, described as a 'track', has been used by the public 'for centuries' and only slipped off the official map in the 1970s, due to an oversight.

Horse riders and walkers at Crab Hill Lane, which has been blocked by a gate for more than a year.

The owner of a nearby property, who asked not to be named, said that until the lane’s future is decided by the county council in October, the gate would not be removed, stating it is 'not listed as a public right of way'.

Kay Comber, who has used Crab Hill Lane for horse riding for more than 20 years, said: “Until March last year, when the gate first went up, it was used by walkers, cyclists, elderly people, schools and horse riders for as long as anyone can remember; not every day - but that is its history.

"People are furious and we just want our lane back."

Laura Shoesmith, who lives nearby, said: “I have delved into its history and it was a public right of way.

"The petition shows the strength of feeling, locally, especially after the gate was locked recently.

"We just want it sorted out as soon as possible and for the county council to treat this matter as a priority."

In June 2020, Great Cornard Parish Council submitted an application to the county council to add Crab Hill Lane to a register of public footpaths.

It followed requests from residents and was supported by 26 'evidence statements' of use, after the gate first went up.

According to the parish council, ownership of the lane, however, is "unknown".

Campaigners and the property owner, claim they both have historical maps relating to route, formerly known as Brook Field Lane, which prove their point.

A spokesman for Suffolk County Council said: “The definitive map is the legal record of public rights of way but it is possible that unrecorded public rights may exist.

“An application for a definitive map modification order does not create a new public right of way and can only be confirmed if there is sufficient evidence to support the existence of unrecorded public rights.

"Officers have carried out an investigation of the evidence, including research in the archives, and are preparing a report for the county council’s development and regulation committee.

"It is hoped that the report will be considered at the October committee meeting."

Planning Sudbury Suffolk Homepage Chris Morris