Members of Westmorland and Furness councils Eden area planning committee have voted to refuse and application to reopen and create a right of way between New Squares and Great Dockray that was received by the council in October 2024 accompanied by a petition signed by 137 people titled “ We the undersigned would like to request that the cut through between New Squares and Great Dockray be reopened to allow ease of public access”
The petition and application called for the passageway next to the two lions to be reopened and made a public right of way claiming it had been established as a public right of way through years of usage.
A report was presented to members of the committee with evidence regarding the
claiming of a public right of way with members of the committee asked to make a decision whether to proceed
with the next stage of the process by making a legal order.
But council officers recommended the Committee turn down the application based on the evidence submitted agains the passage having been established as a public right of way.
The Two Lions developers’ representative submitted and objection to the application and provided evidence they believe refutes the claim of the public right of way including photos gates closed and details of the period when access was not available to the passage during the construction of the New Squares Development.
Alongside opposition from the representatives of the developers of the Two Lions Comments against the application had also been made to the council from two Westmorland and Furness Council Councillors highlighting an error on the application that asked if there has there been gates in place with the applicant claiming ‘No’. The councillors claimed “This is incorrect. There has always been an original, grade 1 listed, wooden gate installed” and provided photos.
The councillors also claimed “The alley has never been recognised as a public right of way, but only as access permitted by the owner.”
They also added “The potential benefits for the town and the community at large of the Two Lions pub being brought back into use far outweigh the limited restriction of access to the alley intended.”
Councillors on the Eden area planning committee voted to reject the petition and application call to establish the public right of way due to lack of long term unrestricted usage evidence and concerns that creating the public right of way could see the current redevelopment of the Two Lions stop leading to negative economic impact on the town.
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
