Report of the Director for Corporate Services.

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Corporate Services regarding an application from Mr M Beddall for a modification order under Section 53 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for a Public Bridleway from Trent Walk Bridge to the public road at the south east corner of Home Farm.

The report was presented verbally to take Members through the various legal documentary and historical evidence relevant to the application. The Director also made reference to case law which dealt with the weight to be given to the evidence and gave guidance on the legal tests which they should apply. In applying these tests, Members were made aware that they should examine the evidence in its totality. During their consideration of the application, Members had regard to the Appendices attached to the report including; (i) plan of the claimed route; (ii)  User evidence forms; (iii) Copy of Quarter Session Order dated 1801; (iv) Table of Usage; (v) Copy of correspondence from statutory consultees; (vi) Copy of letter from landowners, Mr Travernor, Mrs Eccleshall and Ms Davies with response to draft report and copy of officer’s response

The Panel decided that the available evidence was sufficient to conclude that a Public Bridleway from Trent Walk Bridge to the public road at the south east corner of Home Farm subsisted and therefore should be added to the Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way as such.

DECISION - That (a) the evidence submitted by the applicant and that discovered by the County Council was sufficient to show that a Public Bridleway from Trent Walk Bridge to the public road at the south east corner of Home Farm which is not shown on the Definitive Map and Statement subsists.

(b) an Order be made to add the alleged Right of Way shown on the plan attached at Appendix B and marked G to H to the Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way for the District of Stafford as a Public Bridleway.