STICKFORD PUBLIC FOOTPATH REPORT
FOR STICKFORD PARISH COUNCIL
NOTES BY KEN RICHARD, STICKFORD RESIDENT AND FOOTPATH VOLUNTEER
August 2016 This report will be updated this year 2021 to note any changes
This report was initiated at a meeting of the Stickford Parish Council in May 2016 when it was announced that the ELDC Footpath Partnership was being withdrawn due to budget cutbacks and we in the village felt this could be given attention by our own community on a volunteer basis.
seem to be accessible online and can only be accessed by visiting one of their main offices therefore for this report it was decided to use a descriptive identification which can be identified on the Ordnance Survey map. It is the intention to prepare our own parish map to show these footpaths.
1 CUL-DE-SAC TO FEN ROAD
2 FEN ROAD TO CHURCH ROAD
3 CHURCH ROAD TO BACK LANE
4 BACK LANE TO HAGNABY LOCK
5 BACK LANE TO HAGNABY LANE VIA BOSTON LANE BRIDLEWAY
6 CHURCH ROAD TO BOSTON LANE BRIDLEWAY VIA MANOR FARM FIELDS
Of course these footpaths can be considered in the opposite direction!
None link up in a way to allow a circular walk but in some cases this can be achieved using the public highway.
All routes have public footpath signposts at start and end and Waymark signs on the route to direct walkers between these signs. All the public footpath signs are on metal posts except for route 5 which has a wooden post at the Back Lane bend on this track. None of the stiles have dog passage features.
All routes would benefit from monthly minor attention to vegetation around stiles and bridges during the growing seasons.
1 CUL-DE-SAC TO FEN ROAD
Footpath is from the end of the Cul-De-Sac across the pedestrian footbridge over East Fen Catchwater Drain, turns left on the far side though a narrow path to join the unmetalled lane running down to Fen Road near the junction with KEAL Bank.
CONDITION
Signs good, bridge very good, some nettle growth on bridge join point to bank Cul-De-Sac side Grass path overgrown by shrubs surrounding it but walkable until joins the good rough surfaced lane.
2 FEN ROAD TO CHURCH ROAD
Footpath is from Fen Road beside cottage near junction Cul-De-Sac, though short path to a stile
- Into large field, far side another stile,
- onto a footbridge across a ditch with a stile at end of bridge, across small rough pasture field to wooden swing gate, short path to A16,
- crossing directly to opposite side where another short path leads to another swing gate, route across edge of rough pasture field to swing gate into St. Helen's churchyard, follows church metalled path to metal swing gate into Church Road.
CONDITION
Signs good, all stiles, gate and bridge good.
Vegetation growth at all these points needing occasional cutback particularly hedgerow with bramble and blackthorn at bridge blocking easy passage and entrance to field from A16.
Cattle in field at Fen Road and often with calves, bull maybe present.
Great care needed crossing A16
Entrance at swing gate to churchyard can be muddy, water laying-loose brick stepping stones to assist passage provided. A16 short paths vegetation can overgrow route.
3 CHURCH ROAD TO BACK LANE
Entrance by short path between bungalow and house (used to be a stile here but oddly and I believe without any notification this was removed June 2016), cross stile into pasture field to far corner where a second stile leads onto Back Lane.
CONDITION
Signs good, stiles good, the first short path can be overgrown, vegetation around stiles needs controlling, field is quite thistle overgrown at times, cows in field (docile rare breed)
4 BACK LANE TO HAGNABY LOCK
Route is from Back Lane across stile by STICKFORD Barn/Harvest Barn onto track running to the left of the properties until emerges onto open field, footpath leads across middle of arable field to far side where wooden footbridge crossed HAGNABY Beck, route is then diagonally across field corner to left headland where wide grass track leads to HAGNABY Lock hamlet.
CONDITION
Signs good but ivy growth heavy on HAGNABY end post. Bridge good. Problem may be in crossing the large field if the footpath is not cleared across the agricultural crop by the landowner (in 2016 this crop was oil seed rape and no path was prepared for walkers until a complaint was made by a walker- to either LCC or ELDC- and the landowner attempted a token flattening of the crop with a vehicle which at that time was high and dense. The route was only then passable after subsequent walkers beat back the flattened stalks).
Footbridge has some vegetation-nettles-overgrowing access points.
The diagonal path to the grass headland to allow continuation was not maintained for walkers in 2015/2016 with vegetation overgrowing and in July 2016 was totally ploughed over leaving the only sensible route to deviate to the left after the bridge and join the headland early before the actual designated point.
5 BACK LANE TO HAGNABY LANE VIA BOSTON LANE BRIDLEWAY
Off Back lane on the right side from the village is a well signposted route along the old bridleway to join HAGNABY Lane after a quarter of a mile
CONDITION
Signs good but the metal post at HAGNABY Lane end is showing unsightly corrosion, open route much used by walkers and dog walkers, good grass surface, some bramble overgrowth from hedgerow to sides until cut by adjacent landowner in late summer. Deep ditch to one side. Grass track can be long until mowed by adjacent landowner.
6 CHURCH ROAD TO BOSTON LANE BRIDLEWAY VIA MANOR FARM FIELDS
Entrance is by stile (1) near Community Centre, diagonally across sheep pasture field, past pond to middle of field side where another stile (2) leads to second pasture field with cows, continues to far side with stile (3)leading to another field and finally after crossing this field there is a final stile (4) allowing access to footpath 5 above
CONDITION
Signs good, stiles good, some vegetation overgrowing base of stiles and stile 1 has brambles and blackthorn making passage difficult.
First field has sheep and seasonally lambs; field may have wet sections as small streams cross. Second two fields often have cattle with calves and often a bull. Stock, if present, can be inquisitive of walkers and may cause concern. The farmer informs me this bull is very docile.
Contact the council for details. stickfordparishclerk@gmail.com