REPORT ON FOOTPATHS - SAWBRIDGEWORTH AREA

 BRIAN ROCHESTER

Minute 73/02, page 41 refers.

Footpath No. 1

We only have 53 yards in our area as it is included in Footpath 11, which comes under Thorley area, this footpath is clear and passable.

Footpath No. 2

This footpath is overgrown and impassable and it needs a complete overhaul that should be undertaken by East Herts. Rights of Way; also a finger post is required in Spellbrook Lane.

Footpath No. 3

The footpath is marked at the lay-by (in lay-by) also at other end of field.  There are the remains of a stile this side of railway crossing.  There is no stile other side of railway.  There is a post that once carried a warning sign; there are no train whistle signs.  Across the field down to the lock there are no way mark signs.  From lock to Tednambury Mill also requires way marker signs.  At this time Footpath No. 3 is unusable apart from the part from lock to Mill.

Footpath No. 4

The entire path is clear and well marked although where path crosses the field it can become overgrown with crops. This year the farmer had left a clear path across.

Footpath No. 5

The entire path is clear and signposted, no action required at this time.

Footpath No. 6

At Cambridge Road end a barrier should be replaced and at Marlands it is recommended a footpath sign should be attached to Lamppost No. 2  

Footpath No. 7

Footpath sign needs replacing (faded), also way mark should be placed where Footpath 7 & 8 divide otherwise all o.k.

Footpath No. 8

This footpath is o.k. apart from close ploughing to field edge sometimes.

Footpath No. 9

Footpath clear, footpath sign is buried in hedge needs clearing, hedge that belongs to Leventhorpe School needs cutting back, the fence which had been pulled down needs to be replaced or repaired.  Have made safe at this time and removed fallen fence from footpath.

Footpath No. 10

Footpath o.k. stile needs clearing which will do myself.  (This should be Bridle Way).

Footpath No. 11

This short part of the path in our area is all o.k. (This should be Bridle Way).

Footpath No. 12

This path has only one sign post at Sayesbury Avenue, sign required at West Road, also a three way footpath sign would be useful at Chalks Farm indicating Footpath 12 to West Road, Footpath 12 to Sayesbury Avenue, Footpath 13 to Guilders.

Footpath No. 13

Footpath from Chalks Farm end slightly overgrown, passable, should be able to clear myself, some residents appear to be dumping garden waste, would like to see footpath sign at London road/Brook Lane End.

Footpath No. 14

A good field path, way marker after foot bridge indicating FP14 and 15 and another about 200 yards where path changes from one side of hedge to other would be helpful.  The bridge that crosses the stream is in urgent need of repair.

Footpath No. 15

This path is passable.

Footpath No. 16

Footpath needs replacing (faded) otherwise well used path – all o.k.

Footpath No. 17

This footpath I have cleared and is now passable; on the down side residents seem to be using as a place to dispose of garden rubbish.

Footpath No. 18

This is a bridleway and needs to be cleared.  It is quite a big job and also could do with some way marking. At the moment I have made it possible to use.

Footpath No. 19

From Redricks Lane to bottom of field all o.k.  Way marker at field end, from this point on the path it is impassable due to brambles about 10 ft high at the moment.  You can join up with path 20 by turning left and following field edge, don’t know if this is possible when field is ploughed or in crop.

Footpath No. 20

This path is all clear and well sign posted, the only problem I could see was when the path reached the river area instead of turning left and crossing the field to the tow path it goes right around the field edge to arrive at the tow path.  There are no way markers for either path at towpath end.

Footpath No. 21

Footpath clear at the moment, it does suffer at the start from overgrown hedges from either side of the path where the path crosses Brook Road.  The footpath sign needs replacing with an additional one pointing in the opposite direction at the top of this path.  I would like to see a four way sign, one pointing through the park, one down the path, the other two pointing left and right.  At the other end of the path way marking needs to be done.

Footpath No. 22

This footpath is clear and sign posted, but the bank along by the stream is being eroded away, if work on repairing the bank is not carried out soon this path will have to be closed.

Footpath No. 23

Footpath sign at London Road end required.  This path suffers as a dumping ground for garden waste and other items.  At the rear of Newton Drive and East Drive, at the end where No. 23 meets No. 26 a sign showing it turning right is required. Signs are also required in the area where it turns left across a field.  The path travels for about 100 yards then it stops and progresses no further because the path is blocked by very marshy conditions, there is a short part from wooden bridge to riverbank.  It also needs way marking at bridge and towpath.

Footpath No. 24

This path suffers from the same problem as No. 23, marshy conditions and no way marking.  I feel it is going to be quite a problem returning these paths back to being usable again.

Footpath No. 25

Being a tarmac path it is passable; it does require a footpath sign at Sheering Mill Lane and Church Street ends.

Footpath No. 26

Have cleared this path but need sign replacing at Vantorts Road end and a new sign where it meets No. 23.

Footpath No. 27

This is also a tarmac path but like No. 25 it requires a sign at Sheering Mill Lane end and Church Street end.

Footpath No. 28

Another tarmac path that requires a sign at The Forebury end and Station Road end.

Footpath No. 29

Another tarmac path, which requires a sign at The Forebury and Station Road end.

Footpath No. 30

This footpath runs down through The Forebury, as it follows a road I don’t think it needs footpath signs. 

Footpath No. 31

This path and No. 25 both run through “Old Bowling Green” so should be treated as one.

Footpath No. 3

Tarmac path only needs checking that hedges are not over growing.  This path could do with signs at either end.

Footpath No. 37

A towpath which has been cleared; could do with a sign pointing north and south at Keckseys Bridge also a sign south at Station Road.

Footpath No. 40

This path has been cleared; sign posting is difficult to do as it is between Hertfordshire and Essex.

Footpath No. 42

Same comments apply as for Footpath 40.

 

Note:  

Most of our paths are passable but I think that the marking of paths is important, as it is nice to know where you are going.

Footpath numbers 33,34,35,36,37,38 and 41 do not come under the Sawbridgeworth area.   

10th October, 2002

SAWBRIDGEWORTH FOOTPATH UPDATE 

Footpath No 2:         This path may now be able to be re-instated due to the sewerage works going on.  Workmen have already cleared the area around the stile in Spellbrook Lane.

Footpath No 4:         Having opened up this footpath after being closed for several years, I am now giving it a regular cut.  I am also pleased to report it is now being used.

Footpath No 9:   Have kept this path clear by regular cutting throughout the year.

Footpath No 13:       Have cleared this path now.  A local resident approved and said it was much better to use.

Footpath No 17:   Have had to clear this path again, as it suffered quite badly in the gales.

Bridleway No 18 (FP No 18):   This was supposed to be cleared by Rights of Way East Herts.  After a further check, found it just the same, so I have cleared it myself.

Footpath No. 21:  Have done way marking from Harlow end up to Pishiobury Park.

Footpath No 23:       Have re-instated this path, although there is a short path that is still marshy, I am looking to boardwalk this part over.  This path is now being used.

Footpath No 24:       I have re-instated this path also, but like FP23, I am hoping to boardwalk short marshy area.  This path is also being used.

Footpath No 39:   This appears to have been left off the report.  This is a footpath-cum-towpath.  It runs from north of Keckseys Bride to the Moors bridge.  It is all passable.  I have done a cutback along the path from the Moors to Sheering Mill Lock.

Update 07/11/02

Footpath Report H.1.2.1.

SAWBRIDGEWORTH FOOTPATH UPDATE

Footpath No 9:            Have cleared two fallen trees that were blocking path.  Also have levelled out tree root that was half blocking path and levelled out path where it meets footbridge.

Footpath No 22:  Have levelled out path where it slopes towards stream, making it safe to walk on.      

Update 21/01/03

Footpath Report H.1.2.1.