Examination of Witnesses (Questions 18140
- 18159)
18140. Our proposal of this option is not meant
as any sort of acceptance of the demolition of Dog Kennel Bridge
without replacement. I have sought to show that it is an important
path and that it is well used, even if it chanced that there was
little or no use when Crossrail did their survey. The highway
authority agrees that the bridge should be replaced. So does South
Bucks District Council. So does the Parish Council, whose representative
is here today to give evidence. It is a feature of importance
to the public, increasingly so as recreational walking gains in
popularity, and it is the sort of route to which Parliament attaches
especial importance in the rights of way improvement plans it
introduced in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. We respectfully
ask that you retain this important bridge.
18141. Mr Liddell-Grainger: Thank you
very much. Have you any questions, Mr Suggett?
18142. Mr Suggett: Not from me.
18143. Mr Liddell-Grainger: Ms Lieven?
Cross-examined by Ms Lieven
18144. Ms Lieven: There is just one matter,
sir. Most of the matters I will deal with with Mr Berryman when
I call him because that is the way we normally proceed. There
is one point I am a little concerned about. If we can have our
photograph 004 up again, please, the one with Mrs Berryman climbing
the gate.[11]
Mr Graham, I think you were suggesting to the Committee that this
photograph was somewhat misleading because a little to the left
there is a stile that Mrs Berryman could climb.
(Mr Graham) That is absolutely
right.
18145. Can I put up a photograph taken on the
same day, minus Mrs Berryman, which shows the condition of the
stile on that day?[12]
That is the stile, is it not, on the left?
(Mr Graham) That is right.
18146. If we put up the next photograph I think
it makes it rather apparent as to why Mrs Berryman climbed the
gate rather than the stile.[13]
(Mr Graham) Yes.
18147. Certainly at that time there was absolutely
no evidence of anybody climbing the stile and nobody in anything
other than thick walking boots and thick trousers would have wanted
to do so.
(Mr Graham) That is because
that photograph was taken in June shortly after, within a few
months of, Mr Rayner closing the gate. Other users of the path
would probably have done the same as Mrs Berryman did, therefore
the stile was not used. Since then the stile, as shown in the
photograph that I produced which was taken in about November last
year, if I recall, has been used considerably more and the vegetation
has been cut back occasionally by the odd user or two, including
myself.
18148. Can I just put up one photograph on the
state of the footpath?[14]
That is footpath 15A in June of last year. Does that accord with
your recollection of it?
(Mr Graham) That is right, yes.
18149. Ms Lieven: Thank you very much.
I will leave the other points for Mr Berryman. Thank you.
18150. Mr Liddell-Grainger: Thank you
very much, Mr Graham, if you would like to stand down. Mr Suggett,
can we have your second witness please.
The witness withdrew
18151. Mr Suggett: Glenda Collins, please.
Mrs Glenda Collins, Sworn
Examined by Mr Suggett
18152. Mr Liddell-Grainger: Just before
you start, Mrs Collins' evidence will be A202. Mrs Collins, please
carry on, unless you have any questions to lead in with, Mr Suggett?
18153. Mr Suggett: No, thank you, sir.
18154. Mr Liddell-Grainger: Why do you
not sit down, Mr Suggett, it saves you standing all the time.
Mrs Collins, if you would like to carry on.
(Mrs Collins) Thank you.
My name is Glenda Collins. I am the Clerk to Iver Parish Council
of 45b High Street, Iver, Buckinghamshire. On 8 January 2007,
Iver Parish Council passed a resolution in support of the petition
of the Open Spaces Society and the Ramblers' Association. I have
a copy of that resolution to hand to the Committee. If I may,
it says: "The Parish Council resolve to support the petition
of the Ramblers' Association and Open Spaces Society and resolve
to prepare a proof of evidence testifying to the path's importance".
18155. Iver Parish Council passed the resolution
because it recognises the importance of retaining the link between
footpath 15 and footpath 15A. In the network of local recreational
footpaths, this is a particularly important one. It is especially
important because in the rectangle bounded by the railway, Market
Lane, North Park and Thorney Lane, it is the only off-road route,
unless you count the residential roads of Richings Park. And it
is an important link with footpath 24 to the south, which can
be reached with only a small amount of road walking along a road
which has a footway to it.
18156. We know that many local people use the
path. Some of them use it frequently. People from further afield
use it too, especially those walking southwards to, or northwards
from, the Colne Valley Way Walk. If I can just add a little bit
there. I take parish councillors on a tour of the parish on an
annual basis and this is one of the places that we do visit. The
last time we were there, there were about a dozen people walking
to and from and standing on the bridge. There was a steam train
due to go through and apparently it is a very good vantage point
for watching the steam trains.
18157. The Parish Council agrees with the petitioners
that Crossrail's proposed alternative route between the Bison
Works and the railway is of no amenity value, being so unattractive.
If Dog Kennel Bridge is to be demolished without replacement,
the petitioners' preferred route would be far better compensation,
especially if it connected with the north side of the station
at Iver.
18158. The Parish Council's view first and foremost
is that the bridge should be replaced. It is an important public
amenity in our locality, and so Iver Parish Council asks the Committee
to accede to the petition to provide a replacement for Dog Kennel
Bridge.
18159. Mr Liddell-Grainger: Mr Suggett,
do you have any other questions?
11 Committee Ref: A200, Alternative view of gate at
Dog Kennel Bridge (LINEWD-AP3-13-05A-004). Back
12
Crossrail Ref: P135, View of gate and stile at Dog Kennel Bridge
(SCN-20070125-003). Back
13
Crossrail Ref: P135, View of stile at Dog Kennel Bridge (SCN-20070125-004). Back
14
Crossrail Ref: P135, View of Footpath 15A, June 2006 (SCN-20070125-005). Back
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