Canal Mead Permissive Path
North Mundham Parish Council and West Sussex County Council are pleased to advise you that further to clearance work that was carried out in the winter of 2014, it was confirmed that the land adjacent to the abandoned canal is suitable for a permissive path.
The Parish Council strongly supported the provision of affordable housing within the Parish and worked closely with Hyde to provide new affordable homes. However, due to the location of the site the Parish Council and residents of the village were concerned that the residents of Canal Mead would be isolated from the rest of the village. We therefore considered it important that a safe off road community and recreation route for pedestrians was provided. It has taken some time but the Parish Council has secured 50% of funding for this project from grants and the remaining cost is being covered by the Parish Council. The Parish Council has obtained the appropriate permissions from the land owner, West Sussex County Council. The path has been a long term project for the parish, we hope that its completion will bring an improvement to the access to the rest of the village for the residents of Canal Mead.
The contractor B&M Plant Hire has now been appointed to carry out the work to provide this much anticipated path, and the work is due to commence the week beginning 16th October.
As this route will become a key link we would also ask that, once this work is completed, residents refrain from dumping garden waste or other refuse on the route or the adjacent land. Dogs will be welcome to use the path but we would ask that you clear up after them.
The path will be maintained by West Sussex County Council, and will be included in their 15 month inspection cycle. However, footpaths only remain passable with constant use and we are looking for volunteers that can help keep this path clear in between the County Council’s routine maintenance. If you are interested in joining this group please do not hesitate to contact the Parish Clerk on 01243 203050 or clerk@northmundham.org
The Parish Council are hoping that improvements can in future be made to the canal to improve the biodiversity, hopefully this area will become an area of beauty rather than an overgrown waste land and an area prone to fly tipping.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact either the Parish Clerk on 01243 203050 or clerk@northmundham.org or West Sussex County Council’s Access Ranger, Katherine Eels, on 03302 226692 or prow@westsussex.gov.uk
