TWO footpaths that were in use for generations before being closed due to anti-social behaviour and Covid measures will be officially recorded.
The decision confirms the public have an established right of way and the paths can remain in use.
Closure of the paths, during the 2020 Covid pandemic as a result of anti-social behaviour and measures in place during that year’s lockdown, prompted complaints and a formal application to record them as footpaths in August 2022.
Local residents said they have used the routes connecting St Mary’s Road, Bryn Eglwys, and Woodland Road in Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran as safe, convenient walking routes since at least the 1960s with evidence of the use stretching back even further.
As a result Torfaen Borough Council was asked to record the paths as public footpaths on the definitive map and statement.
It considered maps and photographs, including a 1945 aerial photograph by the RAF, and written correspondence dating back to the 1950s, as well as statements from 22 people who said they’ve regularly used the paths with seven having said they did so before 1971.
Church in Wales
The Representative Body of the Church in Wales, which owns part of the land the paths cross at St Mary’s Church, provided a letter it sent to the former Gwent County Council in 1991 referring to notices it had posted to the church doors, as evidence it hadn’t intended for the paths to be a public right of way and said members have also locked the gates.
That meant the council had to consider if there was evidence of claimed use of the path of no less than 20 years meaning the period to be considered was 20 years from 1971 to 1991 and it considered the evidence showed the path had been in use.
The decision was confirmed by the council’s Labour cabinet at its June meeting.
Croesyceiliog councillor, and cabinet member, Joanne Gauden said she and Cllr Richard Clark who also represents the area wanted to “commend the many local residents who’ve lobbied for that path to be reopened.”
She said it is used to access allotments while they also recognised concerns over litter and anti-social behaviour: “Should these issues arise then myself and Cllr Clark will be happy to follow up any reports with Gwent Police and public health where needed.”