Norfolk Broads villagers win 600m footpath row in Neatishead

Locals in Neatishead have been granted permission by government officials to use the route, which links the village to Alderfen Broad, a little-known lake and wildlife haven.

It follows a row breaking out between walkers and a local farmer, which led to claims of intimidation, "unpleasant incidents" and abusive language.

After five years of footpath clashes between the warring parties, the Planning Inspectorate - the government department that presides over public right of way disputes, has ruled in the villagers' favour following a public inquiry held last month.

An aerial view of the footpath route, which links Neatishead to Alderfen Broad (Image: Google)

BROAD BLOCKED

The footpath runs from the end of Sow's Lake, at Threehammer Common, through woodland before turning south towards Alderfen Broad, a site of scientific interest which is not connected to the main river network but lies close to the river Ant and Barton Broad.

The path is one of the most direct routes villagers can take to reach Alderfen and was once a popular track for dog walkers.

It travels through land that was willed to the parishioners of Neatishead before later coming into the ownership of Neatishead Poor's and Fuel Allotment Charity.

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Alderfen Broad is a hidden beauty spot managed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust, which has boardwalks around the Broad for the chance of some wildlife spotting (Image: Denise Bradley)

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The charity, established in the 1800s, owns a total of 15 acres of land in the area, including the village playing field and bowls green, which were bequeathed to it. It receives about £1,700 a year from lettings.

The land now crossed by the controversial footpath was turned into allotments in 1905 but by the 1980s it had become farmland managed by a tenant farmer. 

Villagers say they had used the route for decades but in 2019, they suddenly found 'no entry' signs placed at either end.

This prompted a series of "unpleasant incidents" between both the tenant farmer and villagers, including complaints of "abusive language and intimidation" levelled at both sides.

A fallen tree branch was placed across the path to block walkers in 2019 (Image: Norfolk County Council)

The farmer then blocked the route with 19 large logs and a fallen tree at one end with heavy farm machinery at the other.

These were later removed by disgruntled villagers.

READ MORE: Bid to turn woodland into holiday camp blocked after 100 villagers object​
The Neatishead village sign (Image: Newsquest)

'ALWAYS A HIGHWAY'

A local walker, Gill Young, attempted to get the path registered as a public right of way, submitting a claim to Norfolk County Council.

This was accepted on the basis of historical evidence. 

About 20 villagers supported this, saying they had walked the trail for more than 20  years.

The southern side of the disputed path in Neatishead, starting from the entrance to Alderfen Broad (Image: Newsquest)

However, Neatishead Poor's and Fuel Allotment Charity opposed the move, saying no public access right existed and that if one was created it would have an impact on its ability to rent out the land.

This led to the public inquiry last month, held at Horning Village Hall, which was presided over by Nigel Farthing, the inspector.

At the meeting, the charity and tenant farmer, Stuart Pairpoint, attempted to persuade the official that they had no intention of allowing villagers to use the path.

A sign put up along the path in 2019, telling people they could not use it (Image: Norfolk County Council)

But Mr Farthing decided not enough had been done to communicate this to villagers, with signs only being erected in 2019.

He concluded there was enough evidence to show that walkers had travelled on the route without interruption for a 20-year period between 1999 to 2019.

He therefore decided to confirm the footpath, under the common law legal maxim, 'once a highway, always a highway.'

HIDDEN GEM

Alderfen Broad is one of the smallest lakes within the Norfolk Broads waterways and it remains relatively secluded.

It is known for its large and very old tussock sedges, a rare marshland plant, which gives the area a wild, primaeval feel.