Closure of the permissive footpath from High Street, Ketton to KSCC
Statement from County Councillor Gordon Brown
First of all, it is a permissive path in other words the landowner had an agreement with Ketton Parish Council to allow the path to be used but the landowner had the right to withdraw that permission which he has now exercised. KPC received formal notification on 29th December from the solicitors acting on behalf of Balfour Beatty Homes who are planning to start construction on the Chater Field site imminently. Part of the planning permission approved by Rutland County Council for this site included providing a footpath through the new development to access KSCC from the High St., unfortunately this will not be available until the internal road is completed and the houses are ready for occupation.
I have been working with the Parish Council to find a solution to this issue during the last few weeks. Initially it was thought the footpath could be retained during most of the development however because of extensive drainage works on the east side of the site there would not be space to include a footpath. An alternative route might have been through or beside the Molesworth Bungalows and Chater House but following investigation this has also been ruled out for a number of reasons which sadly only leaves access via Pit Lane.
This route is further complicated as Pit Lane is not an adopted Rutland County Council highway but is in the ownership of Hanson Cement who are responsible for its maintenance and safety of all of Pit Lane. Ketton Parish Council are looking at what might be able to be done especially at the junction of Pit Lane and High Street to improve the safety of pedestrians, and it is an item on the agenda for their meeting on Wednesday 19th January at 7.30pm in the Congregational Hall, Chapel Lane at which you will be most welcome.