PRESS RELEASE FOR FAR BENFIELD FOOTPATH
HISTORIC FOOTPATH RESCUED FROM OBSCURITYA joint initiative between Stockport Council and two footpath societies has resulted in a historic footpath near Etherow Country Park being re-opened to walkers after decades of disuse.
The footpath crosses Gigg Brook valley from Far Benfield Farm on Cowlishaw Road, Compstall to near Hyde's Farm on School Lane. It provides an opportunity for a number of circular walk from Etherow Country Park, or longer routes encompassing Werneth Low.
The Peak & Northern Footpaths Society (PNFS) has files on this footpath going back to the 1920's. At that time it was regularly blocked off with barbed wire and other obstructions. Landowners disputed that it was a public footpath at all. Several mass walks were organised to remove obstructions and assert the right to walk the footpath.
This culminated in the landowner being fined 40 shillings in 1929 in the Stockport Borough Police Court for obstructing a public footpath. He eventually agreed to a footbridge across Gigg Brook but it was never built. The path deteriorated and became impassable due to very thick mud, dense vegetation and no means of crossing the stream.
John Broadbent, chairman of the PNFS, said: “Our recent interest in this path was a result of a volunteer coming across a long-forgotten file in our archives. The file revealed the history of this now forgotten footpath and how important this footpath had been to our predecessors. The Peak & Northern Footpaths Society raised the matter at the Stockport Walking Forum and, after much discussion, it was agreed that the Society would fund a new bridge over Gigg Brook in return for the Council paying for improvements on the rest of the footpath to make the bridge accessible.
“The Society is proud to have provided the funds for the bridge from legacies we have received. We are very pleased with the bridge constructed by George Cox & Co. The bridge will be dedicated to the memory of one of the Society's finest officers, Adrian Littleton, who died in early 2012.”
The Ramblers representative, Edgar Ernstbrunner (Manchester Area) said: “We and other user groups had been urging the Council for many years to restore this important link, and it is thrilling to see this project finally come to fruition. Our policy is to part-fund (usually 50:50) deserving projects such as this one. The contribution from our funds has enabled the footpath to be improved and a set of steps constructed down a steep bank.”
A major contribution towards the cost of the works was made by Stockport Council who negotiated with the landowners.
Councillor Iain Roberts, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, said: “The present landowners were very helpful in making this project come to life and I would like to publicly thank them for allowing access over their land. I’m delighted that another footpath has been restored in this area, which is so popular with walkers and runners. The Council welcomes all initiatives where it can work alongside voluntary organisations to achieve positive results for the community. This is an excellent example of positive partnership working.”
More information on the Peak & Northern Footpaths Society can be found at
www.peakandnorthern.org.uk.
Topic: Historic Local Footpath Rescued from Obscurity (Read 2750 times)