Ramblers’ Association “bitterly disappointed” at judge’s decision to back BMW on Roman Road closure
[15 October 2007]
The Ramblers’ Association (RA) has
expressed its "severe disappointment" at the decision of a
district judge, Witney, to allow BMW and Oxfordshire County
Council to close a 2000 year-old-path that up to 400 people use
every day. They have criticised BMW’s handling of the case, that
turned a theoretically simple case into an ordeal lasting well
over a week.
The verdict, delivered today, follows a seven-day hearing which
finished in Witney magistrates’ court last week. The case was
the culmination of an 18 month campaign by the Ramblers’
Association to prevent BMW closing this historic route that runs
through its plant in Oxford and that provides a link for
walkers, workers, horse-riders and cyclists between the plant
and the green spaces in the north east of the city.
The district judge backed BMW and Oxfordshire County Council’s
plans to close the bridleway on the grounds that it is
“unnecessary”, and that BMW have agreed to fund an alternative
path. The planned alternative, however, runs for one mile along
the heavily congested Oxford ring road. The RA has argued that
this endangers the health, safety and wellbeing of pedestrians.
Adrian Morris, head of the RA’s footpath team comments: “We are
bitterly disappointed that BMW will be allowed to close this
community’s historic path, and deny hundreds of local residents
per day a safe and quiet means of accessing work and the
countryside beyond.
“The judge’s decision to close this safe and pleasant path flies
in the face of the fight against obesity and climate change by
encouraging people off their local paths and back into their
cars!”
Adrian Morris goes on to criticise BMW’s handling of the case.
He comments: “BMW flooded the court with irrelevant paperwork,
turning a theoretically simple case into a five-day ordeal –
eight days in total – which sent legal costs soaring sky high.”
“The RA is also frustrated that Oxfordshire County Council chose
to pursue the closure through the magistrates' court. This is an
outmoded and costly procedure that intimidates ordinary members
of the public from making their objections heard.”
“Eight out of ten path diversions go uncontested by the RA or
any other organisations. We fight, as in this case, where there
is a real threat to heritage or the public’s right to safe
travel. We will continue to do so.”
Find out more about the RA's
footpath campaigns and
recent battles.
The RA will not appeal the case as there is no point in the
judgement on which any appeal could be based.