It has been a cherished walk from the Dorpskerk to the canal for more than a century.
But the route just a stone's throw from the youth house of the mother of Shakespeare is reportedly threatened – from the chairman of the local parish council.
Some locals are worried that Colin Ray wants to build a cozy that they believe would block the priority that passes its driveway, next to his house and goes through a gateway to the back of the building.
The decision has left villagers in Wilmcote, Warwickshire, in the arms. They point out that the footpath has been considerably longer than Mr. Ray's house – and said he should not have buy the building if they objected to the route that went through their country.
Mr. Ray and Vrouw Sue, 75, have successfully applied for a legal development certificate (LDC) to expand the existing cozy on the side of their detached property. If the plans are delivered, it means that the footpath is effectively 'stopped' – villagers the access of the villagers of Old School Lane, from the main road through the village.
The route is currently running through the driveway of the house of the couple – built on the site of a former orchard – before passing under a canopy that separates their house from an 'attachment' that is rented out as a residential accommodation. From there, the path, officially known as Al79, weaves between the gardens of the two properties.
This is followed by the edge of the land of the rays before it finally crosses a stream and merges with the towing path of the Stratford-Ud-Avon channel. About a quarter of miles in the north is the farm of Mary Arden, once the house of the mother of Shakespeare and now a school learning center.
Colin Ray – who says he is following the right planning process – wants to build a good importance about the priority that passes his driveway
A sign at the gate states: 'You enter private gardens via this help path. Dogs and children must be kept in the lead '
Mr. Ray and Vrouw Sue have successfully requested a legal development certificate (LDC) to expand the existing cozy on the side of their detached property
Among those who object to the planned expansion on the planning portal of the council is Sarah Hession, a member of the Wilmcote Parish Council next to Mr. Ray.
Mrs. Hession wrote: “It is disappointing as a councilor of Wilmcote Parish Council that this application has not been emphasized for the parish council, especially because the applicant is the chairman of the parish council.”
She further said that she commented as a resident and added: “This application seems to play the blocking of the public footpath … Ignaging of a public footpath to suit a resident is in my opinion morally wrong.”
Neighbor Annette Pharo said to MailOnline: 'Mr. Ray wants to get off the footpath through his land and there are a huge amount of people who are not happy with it – especially because he is the chairman of the parish council.
“The only reason he does this is to block the footpath, but if he doesn't like the footpath that is there, he shouldn't have buy that house.”
She said that a small footpath -way guide at the end of the rays of the Rays was only installed last November after many lobbying of villagers – and after the original was removed almost ten years ago.
The route is currently running through the driveway of the house of the couple – built on the site of a former orchard – before passing under a canopy that separates their house from an 'attachment' that is rented out as a residential accommodation
The route is just a stone's throw from the youth house of the mother of Shakespeare
Annette Pharo (photo) said that a footpath marker on a tree within the 78-year driveway of Mr. Ray cannot be clearly seen from the old canal strip, which leads from Church Road
Mrs Pharo, a teacher, said that a footpath marker on a tree within 78 -year -old driveway of Mr. Ray cannot be clearly seen from the old Moat Lane, who leads from Church Road – the main road through the village – to Mr. Ray's house.
There is also another sign at the back of his driveway on a fence under a canopy, but Mrs. Pharo, 67, said that this was often obscured by Mr. Ray's car when it was parked outside.
Councils can allow an LDC to confirm that a proposed use of buildings or other country, or some operations that are proposed to be performed in, on or under land, would be legal for planning purposes under the Town and Country Planning ACT 1990.
Colleague neighbor Sheila Rose, 82, moved to Wilmcote when she was 20 and said that the footpath was constantly used during that time.
Mrs. Rose and Husband Winston, 84, have been in the Ramblers Association for 40 years and the retired supermarket worker said: “We just can't understand why the chairman of the parish council is applying to do something like that.”
She added: 'Many footpaths go through gardens. If you do the right thing and continue in a single file, you will hopefully not tell anything.
“We get many walkers and dog walkers here because it is so much fun and there are so many footpaths.”
Colleague neighbor Sheila Rose, 82, (photo) moved to Wilmcote when she was 20 and said the footpath was constantly used during that time
Walkers who follow the Al79 footpath from the village have the option to merge with the towing path and then walk back in Wilmcote, to go further to Stratford-Uvon or on the way in the other direction to the village of Snitterfield.
Some locals are concerned that if the part of the path that ran through the country of council chairman, effectively stopped 'as a result of the proposed cozy extension, walkers who go to the village, have to use an incentive that runs from the path at the point where the screens of bushes between the Rays' garden and the 'Byxe' should use. That path then runs through three private gardens before it finally rises further on Church Road.
One of those homeowners, Martyn Hunt, 78, said he bought the country that his house is now in full knowledge almost 50 years ago, the footpath, registered as Al79a, was there. He added: 'One has to live with it. I could distract it, but I don't want my garden to look like a stable garden.
'Instead, I decided to embrace the path and talk to the people who go through it. Walkers like to look at the garden. '
The retired plastic engineer said that his wife Liz, also 78, would “often offer thirsty Ramblers a cup of tea” while they wandered.
He added: 'We used to be in a walking group and went over the Cotswolds. You can't be hypocritical about these things. '
The footpath squeezes between his property and that of the neighbor Ted Mander and his wife Magaret, 88.
Mr. Mander, 90, said he lived in Wilmcote all his life and Pad Al79 was 'old when I was young'.
Mrs. Rose and Husband Winston, 84, have been in the Ramblers Association and the retired supermarket worker for 40 years
The retired mechanical engineer said that Al79a – who runs along the edge of his garden – was only made an official footpath during his life. It was introduced to help access to the village seasons and allocations that are no longer in use.
Mr. Mander, who himself served as Wilmcote Parish Council chairman for 24 years, said, “The path was there when he (Mr. Ray) bought his house.”
When granting the LDC in January, Stratford-on-Avon District Council said that this “does not remove the need to meet other legal requirements.”
A decision -making notification to the agent of the Rays added: 'It is noted that the proposed development extends over an existing public priority. This certificate does not overwrite the need for a legal order to distract/extinguish the priority of passage. '
The rays had previously submitted a full planning application to 'link the main house to the existing attachment' by expanding the cozy under the existing canopy. The parish council has not increased any objections, but the application was withdrawn in November. The couple, who has lived in their vast house for more than three decades, was granted the LDC in January because the proposed expansion was considered to comply with the rules for 'permitted development'.
Mrs. Pharo, 67, was outside the picturesque house in Wilmcote, Warwickshire
In a explanation for the mail, Liz Butterworth, employee of Wilmcote Parish Council, said: “Council members have no privileges, they are controlled by the same planning rules that apply to all others, not discrimination.”
Section 257 of the Town and Country Planning ACT 1990 enables local authorities to give orders to the transit rights of the public government outside Groot -Londen. These orders make development possible that would hinder public paths if it already has a building permit.
But if a completed development has impeded a path without a previous order to distract or extinguish it, the planning authority can order the development to be brought down.
The Ramblers Association said: 'Public footpaths are important community assets that give people the opportunity to walk close to home. 'Many paths have been used by communities for decades, or even centuries and there are laws that prevent companies or individuals from not developing about the transit rights. Local residents can object to pads or blockages and the Ramblers will often intervene to support communities with legal advice, to help people protect their beloved local paths. If people continue to use this path, as they have been doing for years, it is unlikely that it can be legally closed. '
Warwickshire County Council said: 'From a legal perspective, we can confirm that we have objected to the proposed planning application to extinguish part of the Al79 footpath. This was sent to Stratford District Council on January 3. '
Mr. Ray has not returned any requests for comments. But he previously said to the Stratford Herald: “I follow the right planning process and there is nothing privately.”
