In 1987 Holy Trinity Church in Ossett received £130,000 when it sold land and its rights of way over it. The subsequent development (Far Richard Close) was for 17 houses/bungalows and had an access road designed and built for 17 dwellings only.

The Close is a quiet and safe place for resident’s children and grandchildren to play and pedestrians to walk.

Pedestrians have walked (unchallenged) from the Close into the Churchyard, through it and into other areas of Ossett for decades. This gives rise to a presumption of dedication (as a footpath) under Section 31, Highways Act 1980.

Next to the pedestrian gate (which is never locked) are a set of double gates which were welded together as the Church sold their rights to use them in 1987. The Church now wants to use the double gates and drive vehicles where pedstrians walk. The Church has an adequate entrance and exit on a main road and profited from the sale of agreeing not to use the double gates leading to Far Richard Close.

The gates are positioned in such a way that if traffic used them vehicles would drive on a pedestrian pathway and then immediately onto the wrong side of the Close into oncoming traffic.

These gates cannot be repositioned as they are between healthy trees with Tree Preservation Orders on them.

The Close was not designed for the Church to use it because it sold its right to do so.

English Heritage have stated “It is also important to ensure that cars do not access the site from Far Richard Close, as this would prejudice the quiet enjoyment of the churchyard and the setting of the church.” (the site is the Churchyard).

Please help us keep pedestrians safe by signing this petition because no access to the Church from the Close is reasonably required AND another access is available.

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