Footpath 7 - open for business!

A big thank you to our local farmer Ken Chamberlin for giving Footpath 7 an early extra cut. This path runs from the road between Newmans Green and Cuckoo Tye to the Acton - Sudbury road.   It is much used by dog walkers and others, but rapidly becomes impassable towards the end of April as the grass and nettles grow up.

Time was when the County Council did two cuts a year across all the footpaths, but alas no longer, and in recent years, where it has not hived off responsibility,  SCC has confined its attentions to those designated as 'priorities' by Parish Councils.   I do not know, but suspect that this is an area on which the authority would like to completely turn its back.  This problem is not just confined to Suffolk.  A quick look at the Ramblers' website shows that the maintenance, or non maintenance, of rights of way is becoming an issue across the whole country.


Perhaps in these times of tight budgets footpath maintenance might not seem to be a high priority.   If a path is popular it is quite often possible to find a friendly,public spirited, farmer, or someone else, to maintain it.  Nonetheless footpaths are important for all of us who want to keep fit and enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside.  These ancient routes have a long history and we should do what we can to preserve them.