The Planning Inspectorate has now said that the public inquiry into three new rights of way across Chichele field will take place virtually. A date has still to be fixed but it is expected to be sometime between September and December this year.
The inquiry had been scheduled for 1 and 2 April but was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
In June 2018, Surrey County Council recommended the new rights of way but the decision was then appealed by landowners and developers. The Planning Inspector holding the public inquiry will decide whether to confirm the rights of way.
We should stress that the footpaths remain closed to the public until and unless the Inspector rules otherwise.
OLRG made the application for the rights of way in 2013 after entrances to the field were blocked off with hoardings and barbed wire so that residents could no longer access the land. We collected 74 statements from residents about their long standing usage of the field and, in November 2013, submitted the rights of way application to Surrey County Council. Very many thanks to all those who have given evidence and assisted with the application.
We’ll update when we have a firm date for the inquiry.
