Page 12 - Phonebox July 2013

The Splashpole Saga - tell us what you think
When I first moved to Olney in 2008, having Emberton Park to walk round of an evening was one of the new delights. I always accessed it via the path that went down to the weir, crossing over the weir to enter the park. After a while though, this path was mysteriously locked. Access denied. Now I know that there is perfectly good access to the park just a few hundred yards over the bridge. And I know that closing this gate in no way spoils my enjoyment of the park. But I did think ... well, why?
I also, quite often, saw people clambering over the locked gate - so they too have a fondness for this way in, I thought. Time to do some digging.
I found out that the land is called Splashpole and is owned by the Emberton United Charity. It’s not part of Emberton Country Park. Apparently the land was leased by Milton Keynes Council in 2000 for ten years. The Council allowed access to the park via Splashpole and the weir, although in the lease agreement it was clearly stated that the path should not become a public right of way. Milton Keynes Council decided not to renew the lease and the access path was therefore closed. The charity told me ‘The route across Splashpole is not a public right of way and the charity does not want to see it become a right of way.’
Emberton end of the bridges and this provides a safe access to the park.’
You see, if there was a good reason to lock the gate, I wouldn’t mind. But these people haven’t given me a good reason other than ‘using their right’. So I asked them again:
Dear Mr Harris,
You are correct this was not the answer I was hoping for, I am disappointed...........not just for myself but for all the local people your decision impacts.
I do understand that Emberton United Charity have lost a small income from MK council
However, I note from my brief research your finances look healthy, with approximately a million pounds of asset value. So there is no financial need driving your decision.
Please do correct me if I am missing some good reason why you are keeping the gate locked?
You could develop a positive image with a sign proclaiming that “Emberton United Charity have opened this path for the people of Emberton and Olney to enjoy!”
Before I take this into the public domain I would respectfully ask your board of Trustees to reconsider this decision.
Their response is printed here. It made me a bit grumpy. Still no good reason for closing the route. They think I am
in the minority wanting this path open. They could be right. But everyone I have spoken to would like the path to be open. Unfortunately I haven’t the time to
get the opinions of the majority. Aah
- but the Phonebox can. It’s time for the people to have their say. Sign our online petition or tweet the phonebox or comment on our Facebook page with your opinion. If it turns out you, the people of Emberton and Olney, don’t think the path to the weir is a real asset, I’ll shut up. But if you do .....the saga will continue.
Do you want the Splashpole path to the weir to be reopened?
If you think the path to the weir is a real asset to the community and that the gate should be unlocked to allow access to Emberton Park across the weir, please tell the Phonebox.
facebook/phoneboxmag tweet us on @phonebox_mag or sign our online petition www.ipetitions.com/petition/splashpole/
‘The route across Splashpole is not a public right of way and the charity does not want to see it become a public right of way.’
Well fair
enough -
they’ve lost a
bit of income
from the lease
- but it all
seemed a bit
petty to me.
Giving them
the benefit of
the doubt, I
thought
perhaps they closed it because a) they could and b) nobody had asked them to open it. So I asked them to open it.
The charity took the matter to their next trustees meeting and after due consideration told me ‘Now that MK Council no longer wish to lease the land, the EUC have used their right to lock the gate at the Olney end of the bridge. A purpose built footpath has been constructed at the
Emberton United Charity, March 22nd, 2012
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‘We do not agree with you that ‘the path to the weir is a real asset’ and feel your views do not generally reflect public opinion, other than that of a small minority.’ Emberton United Charity, June 15th, 2013
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