Wotton Town Council Annual Meeting

19th May 2025

I attended the meeting at the Civic Centre on Monday along with SDC Cllr. Braun and GCC/SDC Cllr. Cohen. These are my informal notes.

Lots (maybe 50+) members of the public were present.

The meeting started with the formality of electing the Mayor for the civic year. Paul Smith is continuing in that role and Roger Claydon is continuing as deputy. Just one apology for absence.

The session jumped straight to the issue of footpath access to Westridge Wood. Apparently there's been very heated discussion on social media, but as I've recently shut off Facebook notifications I've been spared all that divisive mental trauma.

The Mayor indicated that GCC has been liaising with the landowner and the landowner proposed installing a new stile and allow access as it was previously. So the problem has been sorted. He went on to say that GCC PROW Officer, Sarah Macaulay-Lowe would give a short presentation on what the correct rights of way are, what are permissive, and the agreed solution. This is a photo of the map distributed at the meeting and I have added info for clarity.

Sarah started her presentation highlighting the concerns and powers at GCC's disposal. She explained that footpath CWE10 is listed on the definitive map, held at Shire Hall. The path goes along the top of the field next to fence. This is the legal path that GCC are responsible for. So the official route is:-

Enter from Westridge Road via the path running next to a fence and you enter the pony paddock via kissing gate #1

The pony paddock is traversed and is exited via kissing gate #2

Bear a little to the left and along the top of field, close to the fence, and you arrive at kissing gate #3 at the far end of the field.

This is the official public right of way, straight forward and accessible.

However, the area under discussion this was the a short permissive path (walked route) from kissing gate #2 leading directly into the woods via another kissing gate, the blue circle on the map.

GCC have no control whatsoever over this walked route or the kissing gate which enters the woods, the landowner can revoke their permission if they want to.

The landowner spoke powerfully (I summarise): You all know the problems. You pull down fences and cut barbed wire. Gives Wotton a bad name. Dog shit everywhere. About time you lot got your act together. Wants dog bins installed. Stay within 8ft of hedgerow. Stock fence will be secured. Prepared to put in a new stile to retain access to the woods via the walked route with access for dogs. Don't want money from Council.

The landowner's neighbour spoke. They own the pony paddock. Lost count at 80+ poo bags removed from there during a clear up last week. Secure boundary is important. Landowner is being reasonable.

Public invited to speak 2 mins.

Clarification wanted on new stile as not accessible. Sarah says there's nothing that can be done about stile or kissing gate on private land. A resident spoke of walking these paths for in excess of 60 years. Original path was across the field until mid 60's. Forestry work, tracks were created, then became paths, people started using the paths, 80' or 90's got the point a kissing gate install, permissive. Tom Pascal from Fountain Forestry representing the land owner of the woods. Happy for people make use of the woods. There's a commercial side to it too. The land owner doesn't want to establish new rights of way, but happy to put up permissive signs. The woods are an SSSI and we need to keep cattle out.

Mayor summarises agreement with and owner. Landowner permitted in 1987. A resident wants the community to come together and put in an application to make the permissive path a definitive right of way. Sarah clarifies. Definitive map, legal record, map kept at Shire Hall. There is a process is to claim it. Historical records. They can look at a claim. Permissive doesn't make it PROW. Mayor tries to close down the discussion but people are very unhappy. GCC Cllr. Cohen steps in to say that people have a right speak. Mayor very stubborn, council votes to agree to carry on. Resident doesn't want stile, wants kissing gate, quoting Equality Act. Sarah responds again repeating previous position, GCC has no power over the walked path entrance.

Another resident says landowner's suggestion is reasonable, trust people, make it conducive for use. Good faith. ex-District Cllr. Ken Tucker says the council should allocate £250 for poo bin and make sure Ubico empty it. The WI put in kissing gate years ago. Mayor closes discussion down abruptly. People who had given up their evening and not had a chance to speak leave muttering "That's democracy for you.".

The agenda item about allocating some footpaths budget to improve public right of way CWE10 was not discussed as the landowner said that he didn't want any council money for the new stile.

Public Forum: SDC Cllr Braun asked what was happening about youth work/provision in the town? Mayor says the council is investigating youth work but the timescale isn't clear yet. Mayor wants to get youth club up and running as soon as they can. The Clerk interjects; the council is waiting on SDC Youth Services Manager (I've pinged them!). The Clerk and Kingswood Parish Council Clerk have been going around other councils and checking their costs. It's a complex issue which will be brought back to council.

Resident wants reassurance and asks if the new Symn Lane car park will ever open. Mayor says they are waiting for developer to put in planning application. Due to complete car park in September as part of the deal with social housing. SDC has a bond, if not completed by September the bond will pay. There are updates, which are in the public domain, on my Car Park Update blog page. (My understanding is that this planning application S.23/2101/VAR was submitted way back in October 2023, I wasn't aware that it needed to be resubmitted, it just needs to come before DCC, but as this is a town council led project I'm not privy to these meetings)

Town Council are waiting SDC to come back to them re change type of poo bin at the top of Little Acre. Is this with the with community wardens? (I'm not sure where this stands, need to chase). Cllr says Clarence Road - Browns Piece dog poo bin not fixed with lid. It's been replaced number of times. Now no lid and it stinks. Why can't people discipline themselves and take it home with them?

WCSF New Barn Project agenda items was withdrawn. Minutes of the council meetings of 22nd April 2025 approved. Noted the resignation of Cllr Paul Jones and position is now available to be filled by co-option.

Cllr Cohen invited to next memorial bench meeting. She also reported that there had been much fallout from the heavy rain last Sunday. Adey's Lane and Holywell. Dryleaze resurfacing in July with juggling of limited budget.

Concern voiced about the status of the SDC Local Plan. There's a good summary of Cllr Braun's comments in the SDC Annual Councillors' Report. The train travel promotion; was confirmed that lots of towns and places to visit, all around the district, were included.

Policies/Procedures were circulated and some will be updated as new guidance is received. Members appointed to various committees and working groups. It's clear there are too few councillors. Various expenditure items like the photocopier were approved and fire risk assessment contract awarded.

I left the meeting at quarter to nine with Cllr Braun and Cohen. Our discussions continued in the car park!

PS.

I've discovered that govt. policy has recently changed allowing dog poo bags to be disposed of in regular litter bins. So, it now becomes a question of capacity and frequency of cleaning. SDC don't pay for the bins or their installation. Ubico are contracted to empty them.

https://www.stroud.gov.uk/media/nbahzcbl/litter-bin-policy-final-updated-sep-2024.pdf

And to finish off this report, here's a photo of a dog poo bag left outside a house on Westridge Road last Tuesday.......