The Rights of Way Manager presented a report which requested authorisation for the making of two Orders pursuant to Section 257 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, on land west of Maesteg Road, Tondu, CF32 9DF.

He stated that the implementation of the following planning consents will require sections of Footpaths 16 and 17 Ynysawdre and Footpaths 12, 16 and 17 Newcastle Higher to be diverted as well as the part extinguishment of Footpath 16, Ynysawdre. These were listed at 3.1 of the report.

The Rights of Way Manager stated that the plan in Appendix A to the report showed the consent curtilage of the planning consent. The sections of footpaths which were proposed to be diverted were shown by solid black lines running between the following points on the plan in Appendix B to the report.

The Rights of Way Manager provided details of the various routes that were proposed to be diverted, part extinguished and created and these were provided in detail at Appendix B and section 4 of the report.

The Rights of Way Manager highlighted an error in the report at section 4.12. The report referenced the proposed new route between point P and G1 as being approximately 110 metres in length, this was in fact approximately 37 metres.

In support of the report, the Rights of Way and Access Land Officer provided photographs to Members which showed the current views of all relevant points in the footpaths, as well as aerial photographs.

A Member asked if the new route’s paths would be part tarmac and part natural. The Rights of Way Manager stated that there were no new footpaths that would be part of each material. He added that only Footpath  16 Newcastle Higher would be all-natural surface and the rest of the routes would be full tarmac.

A Member asked if there were plans to install any street lighting on the new diverted footpaths. The Rights of Way Manager stated that there was no statutory duty by the Council to do this, and there were no plans to do so for these routes. He added that there was one section of footpath 12  Newcastle Higher, from point P in the south west direction that was intended to have 3 streetlights installed.

The Chairperson asked in relation to the underpass mentioned in the report, was there streetlighting being installed here. The Rights of Way Manager stated that there was no lighting proposed for this route.

The Rights of Way Manager advised that as a result of the error at paragraph 4.12 of the report in respect of the distance, the change to the overall length of the network in the area as a result of the proposals outlined in the report would now only be 102 metres longer than it currently is and not 175 metres as stated in paragraph 4.27 of the report.

RESOLVED:  

• That authorisation be given for the Chief Officer Legal and Regulatory Services, HR and Corporate Policy to make the necessary Order to seek to divert Footpaths 16 and 17 Ynysawdre and Footpaths 12, 16 and 17 Newcastle Higher and to create an additional link footpath as shown on the plan in Appendix B to the report, and to confirm the Order provided no objections or representations are made within the prescribed period, or if any so made are withdrawn.

• That authorisation be given for the Chief Officer Legal and Regulatory Services, HR and Corporate Policy to make the necessary Order to seek to part extinguish Footpath 16 Ynysawdre as shown on the plan in Appendix B to the report, and to confirm the Order provided no objections or representations are made within the prescribed period, or if any so made are withdrawn.

• That the Chief Officer Legal and Regulatory Services, HR and Corporate Policy be authorised to forward the Order(s) to the Welsh Government for determination, if any objections received are not withdrawn.

• That the Order(s) excludes any section of the diversion, which utilises highways which are maintainable by Bridgend County Borough Council, as public rights already exist over them.