Footpath Concerns in the Area of Butts Lane

Following the closure of the gap in the hedge on Cooper Road Play Park to access the field there were concerns expressed to us by the community, as to what paths were permissible for access. Secondly there were further concerns expressed that both Butts lane and the path from the park towards Butts Lane, behind Rushmer Way, were impassable. Some kind residents had attempted to clear the junction and access to Butts lane and had removed all the vegetation debris as well. Thank you for your efforts.

Working with North Norfolk District Council Assets team, NNDC Environmental Services Team and also the Norfolk County Council Trails team the following has been established and solutions found. Details of which are shown on the map below and the satellite image of the area and explained in more detail below.

1. The path from the Cooper Road park to Butts lane behind Rushmer Drive is in the ownership of NNDC and the public do have the right to access this path to join/exit Butts Lane .

2. NNDC are responsible for the maintenance of this path and have requested contractors to attend and address the overgrown parts of it.

3. NNDC have also had the maintenance of this path added to the contractors schedules of works and so it will continue to be maintained and should continue to be accessible.

4. The trees adjacent to the NNDC path,which are of concern to residents on Rushmer way will be assessed by the NNDC Countryside Team and any action considered necessary for safety will take place.

5. The 2 paths identified on NCC maps and OS which cross the field and join Butts Lane and then continue to Eastwood are not permissible routes. Anyone following these routes is according to NCC trespassing on the farmers land. The farmer is therefore within his rights to restrict entry through the hedge, as he has done.

6. Butt’s Lane (Sheringham FP27) is under the responsibility of NCC, who currently have this path cut three times a year, though the exceptional growth has meant the vegetation has grown quicker and denser this year. Within 3 weeks of the first cut the path was already overgrown again. NCC will review the cutting contract as they do each year so the management of this path will be looked at going forwards. An additional cut has already taken place this year.

7. If people find the Butts Lane path to be overgrown and inaccessible then please report directly to NCC via the link below, quoting Sheringham FP27 Butts Lane https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/road…/roads/report-a-problem…

8. Eastwood is a private wood and members of the public do not have the automatic right to walk on this private land.

We hope this helps explain the current situation and people will respect the farmer’s rights, stick to the permissive paths and will not be crossing the field potentially damaging crops. There is a permissible public path available which enables residents to access exactly the same points on Butts Lane. We hope that residents will make use of this permissible path now the maintenance issues have hopefully been resolved on both NNDC and NCC land.

Cooper Road Play Park Community Project

Cllrs Bevan Jones, Heinink and Withington will be running a community engagement event at Cooper Road Play Park on Wednesday 18th August  10-12 noon. As District Councillors they  are looking to find out what the families, children and youth would like to see in this space. The idea being to develop a community project to create an accessible space which meets the needs of families and all ages and abilities  of children. It is important also the park encourages Sheringham’s youngsters to be active, outside and connecting with their friends and family.

“As I Work at Woodfields School I understand how important it is for children with additional needs to be able to interact and join in with playing with their friends. It is important therefore that community play space is accessible for all children said Cllr Heinink “So I really want this project to look at how we can best do this. For not only equipment but the physical space as well. “

Cllr Heinink checking repairs to a dangerous surface had been completed at the base of the slide at Cooper Road Play Space

“The Play space is currently very much orientated at just younger children and football. “Cllr Withington said “So it is important we find out what children across a wider range of ages want and need in this space so we can encourage them to be outside and active to keep healthy and connected with their friends.”

Cllr Penny Bevan-Jones

Cllr Bevan jones has always been involved in health and fitness with her work in EXCEL 2000 across North Norfolk. Commenting about this project she said “It is really important that children get to take part in physical activity and exercise from a young age, as it helps to establish a healthy lifestyle as an adult. Play spaces such as this are therefore so important not only for the health and well being of our children but also the health and wellbeing of our future adults. “

The park also plays an important role for parents and carers to catch up with each other at school pick up times so the councillors are also interested in what the adults who spend time here would like to see. 

To gather the community views, District Cllrs  will be there from 10AM-noon with pens, pencils and paper for you to draw out your ideas and tell them about what you would like to see in the space . If you want to take your time and give them more information and show them your brilliant drawings, paintings or any other medium you want to use, then feel free to bring your plans and hand them in on the day. It is not a supervised activity so parents and carers will be responsible for their children while taking part.