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Mark Inskip
Liberal Democrat District and Parish Councillor for Sutton Learn more
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Did You Walk between Sutton and Haddenham in the 1980s or 1990s?
by markinskip on 15 January, 2022
Did you walk along the old railway track bed between Sutton and Haddenham in the 1980s or 1990s? If you did then you could help build the evidence needed to start the process of designating this route as a public right of way.
Sutton residents who have previously used routes to the south-east of the Old Recreation Ground and Paddock at the bottom of Link Lane and Bow Cottages were surprised to see signs erected recently indicating that the land is private and has no public right of way over it. The land owner is entitled to do this because there are no public footpaths across the land even though many villagers recall it being walked for decades.
You may have heard of the ‘twenty year rule’. A public right of way can be established through long term use. The route needs to have been used regularly by the public, ‘as of right’ (without secrecy, force or permission), for a period not less than 20 years. It is not quick or straightforward but has been used successfully to establish new public footpaths. The formal process is to make an application for a Modification Order to modify the Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way. Evidence needs to be gathered with signed statements from those who have used the path, ideally supported by other evidence such as photographs or maps of suggested walks.
Landowners can however deposit a statement under section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980 to protect their land from having public rights of way established across them. And it is exactly this approach that has been used by the owner of the old railway track bed between Sutton and Haddenham. They deposited a statement on 19 August 2002, and then followed it up with a statutory declaration on 14 March 2009. This means that any period that can be counted for ‘as of right’ use by the public would need to be counted back from 19 August 2002. That would mean that the period of use would need to be from 1982 to 2002.
I am therefore looking for residents who regularly walked the old railway track bed between 1982 and 2002 to come forward and help provide evidence that the route was regularly used for walking throughout this period. If you are able to help then please contact me using my parish councillor email address mark.inskip@sutton-cambs-pc.gov.uk.
23 Comments
I have lived in Sutton since 1971 and having dogs I have used the track between Sutton and Haddenham since then, to today, but I am very aware that the farmer does not want us there.
Hi, I used to jog on this path to Haddenham as far back as 1986… it’s a great route and there we’re definitely no signs up anywhere .
Hi Mark
Glad to see that you are initiating action on behalf of so many of us that frequent the old railway line. Access to the old station platform is partially along the edge of a field…I have seen this marked as a path on various OS maps… on the link below section 2.8 may be relevant.
Further, I am interested in the status of the Old Platform as a possible structure to be preserved and as a wild life haven… is there any position on this area….
https://www.oss.org.uk/need-to-know-more/information-hub/rights-of-way-applications-to-record-public-paths-after-twenty-years-use/
Best regards
Liz
Having mostly lived in Haddenham all my life, I have used this route many times when walking and running. The safest route from Haddenham to Sutton is through Waymans pit and along the railway bed. There have never been signs to stop you. Would be a shame if this route is blocked.
Hello Mark,
I have walked the old railway line for many years and used to walk to the Haddenham Steam Rally every year with my two children during the mid 80s to mid 90 s. Lots of families did the same. I hope we can see this track preserved for more families to use for the future.
We have walked the route since 19 77 . In all times of the year
I moved to Haddenham in 1998, and recall being told about the walking route to get from there to Sutton along the old railway track. I tried it out, along with other local footpaths, and really appreciated it as part of the circular walk Haddenham – Sutton – Wentworth – Haddenham, using it from then until now.
I have lived in Sutton since 1990 and since then have frequently walked out of the village onto the fen using the old railway line. Taking that path and returning to the village via the public footpath along Catchwater Drain makes a very pleasant circuit which is very valuable in these times of restrictions on our freedoms. There has never been any indication that the old railway line is not a public right of way and it would be a huge shame if the public was no longer allowed to use it.
I’m very pleased to see that you’re taking this matter up on behalf of the community. In this day and age people are always being encouraged to take advantage of the countryside for reasons of physical and mental health; and landowners are encouraged to use their land for the greatest benefit of people and wildlife.
As a newcomer to the village – I have only been here for 7 years – I can’t help you on the subject of historic use. However, disused railway lines up and down the country, formerly all in public ownership, are now being used for leisure/health purposes; I think it’s quite right that you should begin action to achieve the same outcome for this one. The first responses to your post give every indication that grounds exist.
Hello Mark. I used to work in the factory situated within the disused Sutton Railway Station site. During most of 1981, I regularly walked during my lunchtimes, out of the factory and along the disused railway bed, southwards towards Haddenham. Then returned by walking back along the track, thus totalling two transits per day. I estimate I made 40 journeys in 1981, without let or hindrance, with me treating it as a public right of way. While the Landowner may or may not have aquired absolute legal control over access; any closure of this path would be detrimental to the Rights of Way network in the area. Also completely contrary to the future use of old railways for recreational access in Britain. Good luck with your campaign.
Thanks Arthur, I’ll be in touch as that’s really useful information to have to help build the case that the railway trackbed was regularly working in the early 1980s.
How many responses are there Mark ?
Plenty of Facebook comments but are people making the effort to help build evidence ?
What proof is needed ?
Ideally photos of people using the old railway between 1982 and 2002, maps or other documents showing it as a footpath. Without those then written statements about use of the path over that period.
Hi I worked for the three company’s that run the business at Salmons Farm for 40 yrs till 2017 there never was a problem from any of the managers of the farm up till 2017 about people walking on the railway or the tracks round the farms.And before I worked there my wife/girlfriend who lived in Sutton we walked the railway line in the years 1978/1981 I have now moved to Sutton and walk the track if there is any information please contact me.
Adrian
I have lived in Haddenham since 1992 and have use this path many times out walking and visiting friends in Sutton
Hazel and I have lived in Haddenham since 1976. We are keen walkers and explore all the footpaths in the region. We have since moving here walked along the track to Sutton to visit Rolly and Maier at the Checkers many times. Also one my favourite round about walks was down Station Road to Ansons factory, along the railway track to Wilburton then back to Haddenham by the ‘orchard’ footpath.
Moved to Sutton in 1976
Have walked from Haddenham via the railway line many times
We lived at High Ridge Farm on the Sutton Road between 1993 and 2017 and regularly used the railway track route at least once per week for walks with our three children, blackberrying and sloes. There were no restrictions or notifications on access to or along the track.
We always used that route as teenagers to get to Haddenham plus steam engine rally ,wilburton ,Streatham either walked or cycled as alot safer than toll rd around . 1990-1996 ( no mobile phones with cameras in them day) great time seeing all the wildlife .
I have lived in Haddenham all my life -over 50 years. In that time I have ridden my horses along this route on a regular basis. I know I’m not the only equestrian to use this route. I’m not sure why the new manager is so consumed with trying to block these routes. Previous managers have never had a problem!
Hi Mark,
I have regularly walked from Sutton to Haddenham and back along the old railway track since 1974 unfortunately I have no proof or photos. Until now I have never seen any notifications
that this is privet land.
Hi mark . I had been living in Sutton from the time I was born until 1989 & when I was younger me and my mother used to walk the old rail way track to go to. See my auntie in haddenham & there was no signs to say that you couldn’t walk there
I was born and bred in Wilburton and from the age of about 12, so around 1984, I used to use that as the route from Wilburton to see my mates in Haddenham, hope it goes well