Wildmoorway Lane is granted restricted byway status

An historic Cotswold village route has been officially recognised as a restricted byway.

South Cerney Parish Council's bid to add a length of restricted byway to Wildmoorway Lane has been granted.

Restricted byways are highways over which the public can travel on foot, bicycle, horseback or non-motorised vehicles.

The stretch of lane was not shown on the county's definitive map or list of highways requiring council maintenance.

Gloucestershire County Council officer Andrew Houldey presented a report to the commons and rights of way committee on 12 December covering the stretch of lane from the western end beyond the bridge over the River Churn and towards the Thames and Severn Canal.

Historic maps ranging from the early 1800s to 1921 showed evidence for the route's use as a highway, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said. .

"If rights have come into being in a distant past, a lack of recent use would not lead to a loss of those rights," said Mr Houldey.

"The rights can only be extinguished by a legal order. The application here is supported by both documentary and user evidence."

He reminded those present at Shire Hall of the legal maxim "once a highway, always a highway".

Mr Houldey said the county council had a responsibility to maintain the route, and some works may be undertaken to make the lane acceptable for walkers and cyclists.

"We would be looking at whether we could do something with the drainage. It's always tricky with these things.

"There's an expectation when you go into the countryside that you are going to be walking through mud.

"Or if you are walking along a river it is going to be flooded at certain times of the year," he added.

The committee voted unanimously to approve the application.

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