Cllr Allcott Seeks Solution to Claines River Footpath Debacle

Cllr Mel Allcott has today pledged to finally put an end to the long running saga of the Claines River Footpath. 

The area in question involves the much loved and used public footpath on the riverside at Northwick Marina, Neweys Hill linking Cove Gardens, which is in proximity to the newly built Kepax Bridge and the the Slip at Northwick.

Since its closure in March of 2021, the future of the footpath has been in limbo together with the retrospective planning application for the two already constructed bungalows sited above the footpath currently being let as an Airbnb and a holiday “cottage.” Confusion has continued to grow over responsibility and costs for reinstating a public right of way.

The saga began in 2016, when a title was registered at the Marina Site and planning permission approved for a residential mooring. One year later planning permission was granted for a floating house and two marina bungalows.  Drainage conditions were applied.

In 2019 construction began according to the latest retrospective planning application. Yet public records state it commenced in 2020.  Around this time a letter from the Ramblers Association to the council states that a diversion of the footpath had been discussed for some months.  

The county council were in touch with consultants regarding the erosion of the footpath and by March 2021 the footpath was closed for safety reasons.  The cost of repair to the footpath was placed at £500,000.  This cost was more than the budget for all footpaths across the county and no approval for spend was given. At one point a diversion was looked at in great detail but even this proved unsuccessful.

Cllr Allcott requested funds from the Kepax Bridge project be used to repair the footpath and Cllr Jessie Jagger requested clarification on the landslip at a county council meeting.  Funds were not approved and suitable clarification not provided.

Cllr Allcott requested planning enforcement visit the site and as a direct result the city council requested a retrospective planning application.  The application became valid in July 2024 and the consultation ended in 2025.  

Cllr Allcott then requested this go to planning committee and it is anticipated to be on the June 2025 agenda after the County Elections

Cllr Allcott has committed more time to this case than any other since being first elected in 2019. Many residents have been in contact and endless meetings have taken place.  

Cllr Allcott said ‘I intend to speak at the relevant planning committee and in detail around the concerns and evidence submitted about the construction of this site and the corresponding river bank erosion.  

I’d like to express a huge amount of thanks to all the residents who have put in a significant amount of time and input to this.  I’m hoping this will resolve and “put right” the river bank footpath for residents and also put an end to this long running and confusing saga once and for all’