Walkers in Totland continue to face a blocked route as a hazardous tree leaves a popular footpath shut indefinitely.
The footpath in question, between Court Road and Colmar Way, has been closed since January after a dangerous tree was discovered. However, some 6 months later, the path remains closed with the ‘dangerous’ tree still in situ.
It is understood that Island Roads has been monitoring the situation until they discovered recently that the land was not covered by the PFI contract.
Many locals have called for the tree to be cut down and the associated costs sorted out after the fact.
Taking to Facebook, a Totland Parish Council spokesperson has said:
“The land with the trees on is not land that is covered by the PFI contract between the Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads. Neither is this land owned by Totland Parish Council.
“It does not seem to be registered at all – the same as Windmill Lane and many other footpaths. Indeed, no one wants to own them as that comes with a maintenance cost/liability and no benefit.
“Someone could register the land and take responsibility but we don’t see anyone rushing forward to do that.
Article continues below this advertisement “We have a few willing helpers and some smaller trees have been cleared – 2 last Saturday and one today. It is understood there were 19 in total. Given they are ‘willing helpers’ we await their attention to it.”
If you walk in Parkhurst, Firestone, brighstone. Dangerous trees everywhere.
Time to shut the countryside down.
Safer better to be cleaned up in town by a car.
I have been saying for years Health and Safety does not
exist on the island, such incidents confirm this.
So what happens, all the so called authorities wait for
the tree to fall on someone, then play the blame game.
Grow up F.F.S, get a company to remove it.
Who runs the island The Chuckle Brothers
But who will pay the company since no one owns the land and it is not covered by the PFI contract – surely that is the dilemma?
How dangerous is this tree? It’s still standing 6 months since first reported!
Following 6 months of enquiries, I finally had this update from IWC:
“The Isle of Wight Council is in the process of obtaining a price for several dead elms trees to be removed. We cannot currently provide you with a timescale for these works, but we will be requesting that they are done at the earliest opportunity to enable the Colmar Way Path to reopen as soon as possible.”
Cllr Chris Jarman JP
Independent Councillor for Totland and Colwell Ward
Empowering Islanders Group
Surely if no-one owns the land, the council/IR had no legal right to shut it in the first place?
If it is decided that there is a danger to those using the footpath then the obligation is there to close to footpath until the danger is dealt with. We were notified there were 19 trees.
So who paid for that notification?