11-11

[big soft moose]

On your patch BSM.
A local farmer and wild life park owner is having a footpath driven through his property, thus destroying his livelihood. The interesting part is that the local council has spent a fortune on this dispute and it is heading for the Appeal court. At various points along the proposed rote, acording to the owner, the council is even breaking its own safety rules on proximity to cliff edge, crumbling cliffs, width of path etc. They were recently advised by a HSE inspector that they could face manslaughter charges if someone goes over a cliff edge and that their insurance would not cover claims.
They proceed!

Roy.

And don't forget the Gaderene drive to force through legislation that bans dairy farmers keeping calves and mothers in a field where a pubic footpath goes through. If that happened round our way, many dairt farmers would be forced out of business.

I'm not aware of any such legislation roger - the advice that i would give a farmer in these circumstances would be to consider posting warning signs so that walkers are aware that there are cows with calves ahead and if the risk is pronounced (ie if the cattle are stroppy) to consider electric fencing both sides of the footpath. - it would also be feasible to apply for a temporary diversion order to move the footpath out of said feild for the duration of the calving period.

 

[Digit]

According to the saga it's a new path, they've had a public enquiry and the farmer called in the HSE in in opposition to the council's own inspectors. Hence the right of appeal being granted. I'll keep you upto date with how that goes if you wish as and when.
As I understand it the path was two metres from the edge as planned, then as warned by the farmer, the cliff moved! Which of course may well have somewhat helped his case!

Roy.