Brewery halts school's plan for pathway
By Susannah Berry
WORK on a new 450,000 safe path to Tadcaster Grammar School has been stalled by a disagreement with a local brewery over a small piece of land.
North Yorkshire County Council had hoped to build the 1.5km joint pedestrian and cycle path from the top of Leeds Road to the school by the end of last summer but the scheme has been held up by land purchasing difficulties involving Sam Smith’s Brewery.
North Yorkshire County Councillor for Tadcaster, Chris Metcalfe said the hold up centred around a stretch of land, one metre in diameter, on Toulston Lane currently occupied by the Toulston Polo Club.
He said: “The polo club were keen to sell the land for the path to be built on by they had to consult with the previous owner Sam Smith’s Brewery according to a clause in their deeds.
“The county council met the brewery on more than one occasion to overcome difficulties but the brewery appears to have no intention of allowing the polo club to sell the land because it says it would urbanise the land.
“Compulsory purchase of the land would take years so the county council is now looking at other options and officers will report back to the community at the engagement forum in the Riley Smith Hall on Monday, July 6 on progress made.”
Mr Metcalfe said it was very regrettable that the situation had not been resolved sooner as the path was supposed to be complete by September last year.
“I think it is highly disappointing that we here have a substantial investment such as this by our county council yet a landowner is not interested.”
The Wetherby News contacted Sam Smith's Brewery this week but its spokesman refused to comment.
A North Yorkshire County Council spokesman said: “North Yorkshire County Council is hoping to finish its 450,000 Safer Route to School route between Tadcaster town and Tadcaster Grammar School by the end of the financial year.
“The scheme, which was due to finish last summer and which is partially complete, has run into land purchasing difficulties.
“However, the county council is undertaking feasibility studies on alternative options which do not necessitate the purchase of all the land previously required but would enable the scheme to be finished by next April at the latest.
“When complete the scheme will enable young people attending the school to travel safely by foot or bicycle, thereby reducing numbers of car journeys and increasing their opportunities for daily exercise.”
susannah.berry@ypn.co.uk
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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