About once a week I pass a footpath that I'd really like to be able to use. Instead, I've been watching its demise.
It's not a very long path - perhaps only about a quarter of a mile - but if I could use it, I wouldn't need to walk around a blind bend on a road with no verge.
I reported the blocked path to Kent County Council (KCC) in the usual way about three years ago. I'd tried to access it from both ends, but without success. I included this photo in my report...
I updated my report from time to time and I'm fairly sure I reported the problem to The Ramblers too (my membership has since lapsed so I can't check). I never heard anything and nothing was done.
About a year ago, huge piles of aggregate appeared by the footpath. I climbed over them more than once to see if something was happening to the path, but nothing was:
Then, a few months ago, the aggregate was spread to make hardstanding and a metal fence was erected. The footpath sign was removed from the post and the post was used to attach the fence on one side, and to attach barb-wire and other stuff to completely block the PRoW on the other. Someone had put a caravan in the rough field that hadn't been used for anything for decades (I used to cycle to work along the lane that goes around the field in question).
I informed the council about the latest developments, but heard nothing. I asked if they were okay with someone closing a RoW and vandalising their signpost.
A subsequent bit of fly-tipping simply added insult to injury...
Every time I walked past, I stopped to take photos of the caravan (out of shot) and its surrounding settlement in, what I hoped, was an obvious manner. I don't know if that affected someone's decision to block the view, but this morning the view was certainly blocked.
The KCC website says that my 'reported fault' is awaiting inspection. I'm not holding my breath, but I'm not going to give up either!