Footpath Report – November 2020 – Holmer and Shelwick Parish Council

Issued by Duncan Smart, Holmer & Shelwick Footpath Officer, 4^th November 2020

5.8 miles walked on 7^th and 20^th October, checking and light trimming Holmer & Shelwick paths HO4, HO6, HO8A, HO9, HO10 and HO13 plus 1.7 miles checking path HO1 on 30^th October

Footpath HO1

The following walk was carried out to inspect the current state of footpath HO1 as requested by Mr Manny Smith, Locality Steward, Balfour Beatty

Map showing the original route of Holmer & Shelwick footpath HO1 (in green) with an alternative temporary path (in red) through Holmer Point from the traffic lights and up Avocet Road.

(with acknowledgements to the Ordnance Survey for this extract from the local map)

From the Roman Road (A4103) at SO 502 421 to the footbridge across Ayles Brook at SO 502 422. As can be seen from the photographs parts of the path have become quite overgrown while closed off.

From the current build boundary fence at SO 501 424 to work being carried out on the path from SO 502 423 down to the Ayles Brook bridge.

HO1 Hereford Point Current build boundary fence at SO 501 424

Holmer HO1 from Current build boundary fence at SO 501 424 looking south towards Ayles Brook

Holmer HO1 at SO 502 423 – path blocked by site activities

Holmer HO1 at Ayles Brook bridge – from Hereford Point side of brook

From Pipe & Lyde footpath PL9 Stile at SO 498 429 to the Holmer footpath HO1 stile at SO 500 425.

PL9 & HO1 pasture reinstated down to Hereford Point site

Holmer HO1 view towards current Hereford Point boundary fence from stile at SO 500 425

Two temporary stiles at SO 499 424 on alternative HO1 route through Hereford Point down Avocet Road to the Roman Road.

Holmer HO1 temporary stile 1 at SO 499 424 (wobbly cross step)

Holmer HO1 temporary stile 2 at SO 499 424 (Access from the end of Avocet Road)

In summary:

the original HO1 path from the Roman Road is currently in a poor state of maintenance to the Ayles Brook bridge but that can be easily rectified if the bridge is opened. The bridge is currently blocked on both sides. The path down to the bridge through Hereford Point is close to completion but at the northern end stops at the grey fence that is the current boundary of the development. Extension of HO1 through to the stile at SO 500 425 would require access through the grey fence and agreement that a safe route could be allowed across the currently undeveloped land.
The temporary path shown in red is walkable but varies slightly from the track issued by Balfour Beatty when HO1 was originally closed.

Footpath HO4 – from Coldwells Road up to the boundary with Pipe & Lyde Parish