THE existing footpath from the Carisbrook estate to the end of Mitcheldean Park has been badly in need of repair for some considerable time.

Mitcheldean Parish Council has at long last obtained sufficient funds to carry out this work but don’t hold your breath because I was informed by the council on Friday, July 14 that it is only going to be a partial repair.

It will only be from the Carisbrook entrance to the park entrance gate.

The parish council has come to a monumental decision to end it there and construct a new path on the opposite side of the park fence in the sheep field and to run parallel to the existing defective footpath.

This part of the project is not for mothers pushing prams  or pushchairs or children walking to school or even villagers gaining access to the shops or bus stop.

No, it is being designed for dog walkers.

The cost of the total project is £9,000 and on the basis that this new footpath is approximately two thirds of the project then it is fair to assume that the cost of this ridiculous footpath is going to cost in the region of £6,000.

Do dog walkers really come before the villagers who have had to put up with this defective footpath for a long time?

Dog walkers are not just from our village because a lot come from further afield.

The main reason for them visiting the park is the wide open spaces for their dogs to run after balls.

Very few use the track through the sheep field.

When I queried it with the parish council, I was advised that it was being done to alleviate any mess caused by the dogs.

What a wonderful ‘pipe dream’.

There are already signs at two entrances to the park to keep dogs on a lead and they are ignored by the public.

I have even seen employees of the council on the park who have turned a blind eye to people who  are running their dogs off the lead so I would like to ask the council a question: who is going to be force them to use this new path? Answer: nobody.

I have lived in our lovely village for more than 42 years and have been walking a dog along this track for more than 14 years, whatever the weather.

It is well sheltered with oak trees and  it is more than adequate.

This intended project is a terrible waste of the ratepayers’ money and could have been spent on the original path for the benefit of the general public.

– John Tandy, Mitcheldean.