I WOULD be grateful if you could publish this letter to apprise residents concerning the remained closure of footpaths in the parish of Tidenham.
Mr Alan Bentley, Gloucestershire County Council Rights of Way Officer, has confirmed that all public footpaths in the parish of Tidenham are to remain closed until further notice, in accordance with the Animal Health Act 1981 ("the Act") Foot and Mouth Disease Order 1983 ("the 1983 Order") the Foot and Mouth Disease (Amendment) (England) Order 2001. This declaration does not apply to those public footpaths wholly within residential urban or semi-urban areas or those used as access to dwellings or premises.
The current foot and mouth disease is not over yet. Until such times that MAFF advise GCC that the outbreak is over, the footpaths will remain closed.
Residents are reminded the contravention of the 1983 order is an offence under Section 73 of the Act. Persons found guilty of such offences are liable to a fine of up to £5,000. Also, it is an offence to unlawfully remove sign/s.
It is disappointing to note that some residents are blatantly flouting the foot and mouth regulations and exercising their dogs in fields where public rights of way closed signs have been torn down. This is most prevalent in the field next to Wyedean School. However, signs have also been torn down on footpaths across Poor's Allotments and at other locations.
How some people can be so unreasonable during this FMD crisis beggars belief. Some residents may not be aware, but there have been some 2,000 animals culled within the parish, on Poor's Allotment, Stroat and Tidenham. Each and every one of the farmers and smallholders within the parish are fearful of MAFF officials in white suits turning up on their farms to cull their livestock.
It is likely that our footpaths will remain closed until at least August. Please respect the public right of way closed signs, and keep off the footpaths. – John Powell, concerned parish councillor, Sedbury.