The Parish Council has been working with Oxfordshire County Council on plans to divert one of our local footpaths slightly to keep walkers safe.
This diversion, which will move the path slightly further from the riverbank, is prompted by the on-going erosion of the riverbank. Erosion is likely to continue over time, as nature takes its course, and will ultimately present a risk of riverbank collapse.
The path, which runs along the Chil Brook to the south of the Abbey Fishponds, will be moved a little further from the river, to the north of the existing path. This will result in a minor extension to the length: 37m will become 43m long, with a width of 3m.
Residents can view the map at the bottom of this page to see which section of the footpath is to be moved. The area is also identifiable by taking a walk: we have temporarily erected a small fence on the site to keep walkers safely away from the riverbank edge.
The plan is currently undergoing an informal consultation and any comments or concerns can be emailed to Andy Sylvester, Technical Lead in Public Path Orders and Agreements at the County Council via andy.sylvester@oxfordshire.gov.uk. The deadline for comments in this consultation is Monday 7 July.
We will keep residents informed on the decision and share information on what will happen next in due course. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for updates.