Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
We believe the access between The Slade Nature Reserve and Miller Country Park should be formalised, with good access and signage.
Members of the Parish Council want to ban us from walking from Miller Country Park to The Slade. The reason? There just shouldn't be a footpath.
In fact, by closing the path, they contravene their own Neighbourhood Plan, which states that public footpaths are essential for traffic-free exercise.
On record, they've admittedthat they still want "as many people as possble" to enjoy The Slade, but they can't give a good reason why the link path needs to be closed.
Their reasons:
1) There wasn't a path there when the country park was a crop field.
To be fair, there wasn't a housing estate there when it was a crop field. Things change.
2) When it was a crop field, pesticides would have been used, and walkers could contaminate The Slade if they walk from the country park.
Hang on! Surface water from the country park is collected in the balancing pond, which is then slowly released into the brook in The Slade. Surely, that's a bigger risk for transporting agricultural chemicals than the soles of people's feet?
3) The balancing pond is dangerous and walkers shouldn't go near it.
A proper, thought-out route between the country park and The Slade could bypass the pond completely, if that's the issue.
4) There shouldn't be so many walkers in The Slade.
If this is your argument, it's immoral to make it more difficult for one group to access the area. That's social apartheid! And any way, the council has denied this is a reason.
5) Walkers are showing irresponsible behaviour in The Slade, including lettting dogs run wild.
Well, those irresponsible walkers are just as likely to access The Slade from the Rec entrance. Maybe signage would help them enoy The Slade more responsibly.
In short - there are no justifiable reasons to prevent a second access to The Slade, and with thought and preparation, a formal footpath could be beneficial to the village.
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Updates
May 29, 2020
I have been reading through all your comments and I am truly humbled by how many of you use this path for your daily walks. It is clear that this space is far more important to our community than the council seems to realize. I am currently putting together a formal request to meet with the local representatives to share these stories directly.
25 Comments
I rely heavily on this footpath as part of my every day routine so taking away something so vital and enjoyable would be such a blow
This path is vital to connecting the safe routes down this side of the village and creates a great outdoor learning stimulating environment for kids
Completely senseless and from what I can tell the parish council are not doing this for any good reason other than to make their point because they never wanted the Miller development. Sour grapes I’m afraid. We are just as much residents of Bloxham than anyone else and they would do well to remember that.
We think that it should remain open people will cause more damage climbing over fences and gates than ever they would walking peacefully through a gate and following a path
The more accessible routes there are the better - as a health psychology student I am fully aware of how badly this country compares to most others as far as encouraging enjoyment of the outdoors and being active and healthy.
Just common sense to have another official entrance at the country park end of the Slade
Please don't close another lovely outdoor space.
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
We believe the access between The Slade Nature Reserve and Miller Country Park should be formalised, with good access and signage.
Members of the Parish Council want to ban us from walking from Miller Country Park to The Slade. The reason? There just shouldn't be a footpath.
In fact, by closing the path, they contravene their own Neighbourhood Plan, which states that public footpaths are essential for traffic-free exercise.
On record, they've admittedthat they still want "as many people as possble" to enjoy The Slade, but they can't give a good reason why the link path needs to be closed.
Their reasons:
1) There wasn't a path there when the country park was a crop field.
To be fair, there wasn't a housing estate there when it was a crop field. Things change.
2) When it was a crop field, pesticides would have been used, and walkers could contaminate The Slade if they walk from the country park.
Hang on! Surface water from the country park is collected in the balancing pond, which is then slowly released into the brook in The Slade. Surely, that's a bigger risk for transporting agricultural chemicals than the soles of people's feet?
3) The balancing pond is dangerous and walkers shouldn't go near it.
A proper, thought-out route between the country park and The Slade could bypass the pond completely, if that's the issue.
4) There shouldn't be so many walkers in The Slade.
If this is your argument, it's immoral to make it more difficult for one group to access the area. That's social apartheid! And any way, the council has denied this is a reason.
5) Walkers are showing irresponsible behaviour in The Slade, including lettting dogs run wild.
Well, those irresponsible walkers are just as likely to access The Slade from the Rec entrance. Maybe signage would help them enoy The Slade more responsibly.
In short - there are no justifiable reasons to prevent a second access to The Slade, and with thought and preparation, a formal footpath could be beneficial to the village.
Updates
May 29, 2020
I have been reading through all your comments and I am truly humbled by how many of you use this path for your daily walks. It is clear that this space is far more important to our community than the council seems to realize. I am currently putting together a formal request to meet with the local representatives to share these stories directly.
25 Comments
It makes no sense for the Parish Council to say that they want as many people to enjoy the Slade if they then deny access to it
I rely heavily on this footpath as part of my every day routine so taking away something so vital and enjoyable would be such a blow
This path is vital to connecting the safe routes down this side of the village and creates a great outdoor learning stimulating environment for kids
Completely senseless and from what I can tell the parish council are not doing this for any good reason other than to make their point because they never wanted the Miller development. Sour grapes I’m afraid. We are just as much residents of Bloxham than anyone else and they would do well to remember that.
We think that it should remain open people will cause more damage climbing over fences and gates than ever they would walking peacefully through a gate and following a path
The more accessible routes there are the better - as a health psychology student I am fully aware of how badly this country compares to most others as far as encouraging enjoyment of the outdoors and being active and healthy.
Just common sense to have another official entrance at the country park end of the Slade
Please don't close another lovely outdoor space.
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It makes no sense for the Parish Council to say that they want as many people to enjoy the Slade if they then deny access to it