The public inquiry surrounding the stopping-up of a diagonal tarmac footpath in front of Patching Lodge closed last Wednesday April 14. The inspector heard evidence from nine witnesses and had visited the site beforehand. The inquiry lasted all day and the result will not be announced for at least a fortnight.

Only one of the two formal objectors was present. The other had made his objections in writing, backed up with a petition signed by 11 other local residents. The other objector had submitted detailed evidence and made most of the running during the long day. Although the other four objectors had not made their objections in time to be registered as formal objectors, the beauty of this kind of public inquiry is that such others can give evidence and be accorded similar weight as the original objectors.

Indeed, it became clear during the day that originally the Secretary of State for Transport had suggested it be decided in writing only. There would not have been any public airing of the issues unless one of the objectors had threatened to seek a judicial review. As a result, seven other members of the public (two for, four against) were able to make relevant points to assist the inspector to make his decision.

The issues were fairly clear. Hanover Housing Association argued that the changes to the pedestrian route were so small (extending the journey for less than 25 metres or just a few seconds) to be trivial and the benefits for the residents of Patching Lodge far outweigh the inconvenience to the few disabled pedestrians or people with buggies who occasionally used the path and its light gradient. It has been stopped up for over three years now.

Some of the objectors suggested that the path can be kept as shared space such that both the private residents and the public can use it. There was some discussion of the crime statistics and the likelihood of bad behaviour requiring too much fencing to make that a reasonable possibility. Other objectors pointed out that Patching Lodge has an extensive roof garden, much better that the small triangle of land next to a main road.

The inspector will deliver his findings to the secretary of state for transport soon.