Ramblers celebrate

RAMBLERS had the last laugh on jailed tycoon Nicholas Hoogstraten on Monday as contractors began clearing obstacles placed across a path on his land at Palehouse Common, Framfield, near Uckfield.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Feb 2003, 16:56 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:42 BST

The path had been deliberately blocked with fridges, barbed wire and a barn for 13 years while Hoogstraten repeatedly defied appeals from walkers and court orders to allow public access on the footpath.

Leading campaigner Kate Ashbrook said: 'This is a great day getting the path opened up at last but the county council should have done this in the beginning instead of wasting vast sums of public money in prevarication.

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'We have been able to show that landowners are not able to block paths and county councils have to do their duty.'

A county council spokesman said: 'We are delighted that the liquidators for Rarebargain Limited, the owners of the land, have begun the clearance of the footpath known as Framfield 9.

'During this long-running saga, the council has always said that if the proposed diversion did not go ahead it would make sure the existing footpath was cleared and this is what was expected following the issuing of an enforcement notice last week.

'This notice does give 28 days for the land to be cleared and it is important for walkers to be aware that while this clearing is going on they must take great care of their own safety and not enter an area where demolition is taking place.'

Related topics:Uckfield