Villagers are in uproar over plans to move a picturesque public Isle of Wight bridleway metres down the road.
The BS83 bridleway currently runs from Lynch Lane, past the former Mottistone Mill, which has been turned into a private residence.
The mill was built in the 18th century and is the subject of a sketch by renowned artist William Turner, currently on show in the Tate Modern.
Request from mill’s owners
The mill’s owners, the Butts, have asked to move the bridleway, which the Isle of Wight council has agreed to, issuing a Diversion Order.
The council said the new path would not be ‘substantially less convenient’ to the public as it would be more direct, avoiding tight turns and blind corners as well as more accessible to all users.
IWC: ‘An improvement on the existing route’
The council also said the new bridleway would be three metres wide for its entire length, ‘an improvement on the existing route’.
It has been met with backlash, however, as some Brighstone residents oppose the move, and argue the existing bridleway should also be three metres wide but it has been narrowed in recent years.
If objections are submitted against the order, as the Isle of Wight council has approved it, the final decision to move the bridleway would be made by the Secretary of State for the Environment.
Objections from Parish Council
After pulling together residents’ concerns into a list at a meeting on Wednesday night, Brighstone Parish Council said it would be objecting to the plans as well.
It said it would see a loss of public access to a historic building with local and national significance and the owners of the mill knew the bridleway was there when they bought it.
Drainage issues
The parish council also said it was impossible to see how the new path could be created and maintained to be usable year-round because of the drainage.
It would also be a significant engineering challenge when a perfectly good bridleway already exists, the parish council said.
It recognised the current path has issues, but said they could be resolved without the need to relocate it.
Cost to owners
If the new bridleway is approved, its creation would be paid for by the Butts.
Representations or objections about the diversion order can still be made to the council’s rights of way manager at County Hall in Newport by end of today (Friday, 13th October).
Councillor Nick Stuart said he would take forward residents’ concerns over the state of the current bridleway as it has not been properly maintained.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
