A public inquiry has heard arguments for and against the closure of a footpath next to Cockburn School in Beeston during a two-day hearing which concluded yesterday (11 December 2024).
Helen Heward, the Planning Inspector, conducted the inquiry to decide whether to confirm the Diversion Order made by Leeds City Council last year in respect of Leeds Footpath 207, known locally as the ‘cobbled path’. A number of objections had been lodged, which led to the inquiry.
The diversion order resulted from the expansion of Cockburn School in 2020 to create more secondary school places in South Leeds. A 3G sports pitch has been built along with tennis courts on land that was formally part of South Leeds Golf Club. The planning permission included security fencing which would enclose the sports facility withing the school site, but this would block the public right of way (PROW) and permissive bridleway 207.
The hearing almost stopped before it had started as a sealed copy of the closure notice had not been received by the Planning Inspectorate. Both sides agreed to continue and receipt was confirmed at lunchtime on Tuesday.
The council’s barrister, Shemuel Sheikh, set out the case for closure arguing that the “continuous and secure boundary would significantly improve the security of the school site for students, staff and visitors.”
In evidence, Emma Watson, Chief Operations Officer at Cockburn Multi-academy Trust said the school was following new legal safeguarding requirements and Department for Education guidance. She went on to say that the current arrangements where students were supervised to cross the PROW was not sustainable as it impacted the school’s budget. She added that the PROW posed a security risk which couldn’t be assessed as it posed too many unknowns in terms of the different users who students might encounter. She said the path was used by illegal motorbikes and for other anti-social behaviour.
John Harker from the Peak and Northern Footpaths Society raised a letter written in 2020 by David Gurney, Executive Headteacher at Cockburn MAT, which stated that it would not be necessary to close the footpath. Mr Gurney, who was present, said that the plans had changed several times between writing the letter and the planning application and the closure was now necessary.
Other objectors including Suzanne Grace from Save South Leeds Former Golf Course Community Group and Alan Shaw from the Friends of Middleton Park raised the importance of the path as a heritage asset. Ms Grace said the cobbles had been laid 200 years ago to protect a much older path, and that the route is a parish and ward boundary. They both said that local people valued the path, describing it as like a country lane or ‘hollow way’ leading into the woods.
The proposed new path also proved controversial. Charlotte Hamer, the council’s Definitive Map Manager, explained that the route and construction were compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act with a maximum gradient of 1 in 12. The path, which would still be a permissive bridleway would be 3m wide to allow horses or wheelchairs to pass each other and would be surfaced with ‘Flexipave’ a porous rubber crumb product. The route would also provide greater safety as it was more open with greater surveillance.
However, the objectors argued that the solution was unnecessarily intrusive, creating a wildlife barrier, whilst not leading to accessible routes at either end of the new path. They criticised the choice of materials saying Flexipave has a 15 year lifespan compared to the 200 years of the cobble sets; and the rubber crumb would break down and pollute the nearby nature reserve and semi-ancient woodland. They also claimed the recent tree planting would impede any surveillance benefit.
Ms Grace described the diversion as:
“… less convenient, less practical, less safe, less enjoyable, characterless, unsustainable and harmful to local wildlife. The council has lost its way in justifying this diversion.”
In his closing statement Mr Sheikh argued that the Closure Order should be confirmed saying:
“The potential disadvantages (from the) loss of the existing footpath do not outweigh the benefits to the school and safety of the students, staff and visitors.” And that “the proposed diversion provides a route of a suitable width, surface, gradient and length to service the permitted users of the route.”
The inquiry concluded with a site visit where the two routes were walked and locations that had been referred to in evidence were pointed out to the Inspector.
A written decision is expected in the new year.
While you’re here, can we ask a favour?
South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years.
Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?
Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe
Our ancient paths, our rights of way, need protecting. Intrusive building should not trump the rights of people to walk in the way of their ancestors.
Our young people, our future, need protecting. A few moaners should not trump the rights of children to walk safely.
It’s literally a 3ft path they have to cross that is not open to vehicle traffic how on earth is that dangerous? They have a closed gate into the school and into the playing field opposite they can easily have a member of staff supervising this. If you want to see dangerous watch the kids going to and from school crossing Dewsbury Road not using crossings and jumping between traffic
The biggest danger to children’s safety in walking around Cockburn School comes from school staff vehicles parked all over Gipsy Lane in the day despite ample car parking on site, good public transport links and car sharing options. A problem exacerbated further by parents picking up children before and after school. I’m not sure if it’s true but I was advised that teachers are charged to use the school car parks so clog the streets up instead to avail of free parking. Surely whether it’s parents or school staff the school must get to grips with this road safety issue for children and residents.
Loved walking down this footpath. Brings happy memories of my dad walking us down into the woods. Not once have I seen the so called nefarious activities. I don’t understand the problem, surely the teens are supervised by the sports teachers when out there. The footpath is used as it is a route to the John Charles sports centre that is away from traffic. Children are more at risk from traffic on main road at junctions of Gypsy Lane, Parkwood Rd, Dewsbury Rd & Old Lane. Many parents block up surrounding streets with cars picking up their kids when there are adequate bus services. Speed cameras towards the bottom of Inner Ring Road near these junctions & a restriction of speed to 20mph around these areas is needed as drivers are travelling far too fast. 20mph is needed on all length of Old Lane too as other parents drive to collect children from other schools, but in general drivers are speeding along the length of Old Lane too.