Footpath Number 5, could it be the path to somewhere at long last?

Written by Annette Brooke MP on Mon 15th Jan 2007

When I was first elected as a Broadstone Councillor in 1986, footpath number 5 was a longstanding issue. People had tried to get a nice walk established from Corfe Hills through to 'Happy Bottom' for many years. Footpath number 5 starts just opposite Corfe Hills School but after a short distance it comes to a halt. Some people believe it should carry on to Merley but others believe it should follow the route of the old railway line to Ashington. Questions have arisen over the years as to whether there was a right of way over the old railway bridge, what land was controlled by the Borough of Poole and what land was controlled by Broadstone Golf Club. How could walkers co-exist with golfers? Were there dangers from flying balls? Year after year I tackled the issues and eventually a small land swap and a stopping off of the potential route to Merley was agreed with the Golf Club. In return there was land given by the Golf Club to gain access to the route of the old railway to Ashington. By now this cutting had become a Site of Special Scientific Interest and so dealings with the then English Nature ensued and the Herpetological Society became pretty involved to protect the species on the banks! Compromises were made and we tried to address the issues that would also make our path suitable for the disabled, after all this will be a really great walk! I worked with many groups of people - Broadstone Residents Association and Friends of Rural Ashington to name but a few. However, one objection was lodged to the stopping off of the path to Merley, and this eventually stalled the whole process.

My husband, as a newly elected Broadstone Councillor (2003), took on the fight for the completion of footpath number 5. Just a short time ago the last obstacle was overcome and we think he may have achieved the final success that always eluded me. Planning permission has been granted and work is scheduled to begin in early February.

So what has this to do with being your MP now? I regard myself as a completer finisher and if I am able to celebrate the opening of this footpath I shall be so pleased! I shall even concede that this must have been a man's job if my husband, Mike, succeeds where I didn't! So watch this space for future news. Just think how much enjoyment there could have been over the years from walking from Broadstone to Ashington along an interesting footpath. The moral for all activists is: some problems are harder than others to crack but when the cause is good you just have to keep trying. I take this message into my work as an MP!