Inquiry on Shropshire footpaths 'a waste of money'
An inquiry into the recording of two public footpaths on a Shropshire hill could be a waste of taxpayers' money, the hearing was told.
Land on Pontesford Hill, near Pontesbury, could be sold to Shropshire Wildlife Trust within weeks and if its intention was to record the footpaths then there would be no need for a public inquiry, according to Lucy McFarlane, a rights of way officer at Shropshire Council.
Miss McFarlane made the claim to independent planning inspector Mark Yates on the first day of an inquiry to decide whether the routes over the hill should be recorded as public footpaths. She requested an adjournment on the basis the hearing could prove "entirely academic". The hearing was delayed to verify the facts, but no-one from the trust was available and the hearing continued.
Simon Hutchen, the current owner of the land, has objected to the recording of paths over Lower Camp, along the Larches, and the route known locally as the Bulldozer track.
An order was made in August 2013 to record public footpaths on Pontesford Hill.
Mr Hutchen submitted his objections to two of the proposed paths in the order and the matter was referred to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for determination. The hearing continues.
