Wedgwood Lane,Marsh Green

[wedgwoodwalker]

This is not a numbered footpath, but is a named road. Wedgwood Lane continues from the crossroads with Mow Lane, goes towards Marshfield Lane,ceases to be tarmaced, then parallel with Well Lane, (as a green road), passing between Pointon's growing fields. At the "crossroad" it heads towards Mount Pleasant Farm (where it terminates in the fields). Before Mount Pleasant Farm you should be able to get onto Path 27 and go up to Congleton Edge. However this furthest length of Wedgwood Lane has become blocked over recent years-the hedge has not been cut & is becoming a row of trees. Could this right of way be reopened?

[pathman3]

Welcome wedgewoodwalker to our forum

As you have rightly pointed out this portion of Wedgewood Lane is not one of the numbered rights of way which our forum was set up to discuss and survey, hopefully I can adapt the advice that I would be giving for one of those paths to suit your situation.

Firstly I can summarise the position assuming that we were talking about one of our numberd paths :-

1/ The SURFACE of the right of way belongs to the "Highways Authority" which in the case of Biddulph is Staffordshire County Council
2/The right of way passes over land which is owned by the Landowner
3/The path is maintained by the Highways Authority using public money and as such they must maintain the SURFACE of the path such that it is not obstructed by undergrowth.
4/ The land on either side of the path belongs to the landowner and he is required to prevent any vegetation which may overhang the path from interfering with the passage of the public along the path.
So a right of way would be kept clear by both parties depending on the nature of the problem.
The answer to your problem lies in determining the "STATUS" of this section of Wedgwood Lane. Is it a road,path,right of way,boat,or simply a path over private land without status ?
I would suggest that you approach Biddulph Town Council who of course have direct links with the Staffordshire County Council to try and determine this. If you have any factual information suggesting that at sometime in the past this section of path was in fact a Public Right Of Way then this will be of enormous help.
Remember that just because a ROW has remained unused for years it is still in existance unless it has been legally "extinguished" by the County Council
Both councils are aware of this Forum and may be able to answer your question on line but I would suggest that you visit the Town Hall ASAP
I hope this advice is of some help to you