A ROW over a closed footpath next to a Quaker meeting house has taken a new twist after a planning application to repair a dangerous wall was withdrawn.
Peace-loving Quakers were upset when new next-door neighbour Mr William Cooper, closed off a footpath leading to the ancient Meeting House at Quaker Bottom in High Flatts, which is in a conservation area.
Mr Cooper said the footpath was unsafe due to the precarious condition of one of the retaining walls.
The 8ft-wide pathway has been used by Quakers attending the Meeting House in the tiny picturesque hamlet of Quaker Bottom for centuries. They were officially given a legal right of way in exchange for £1 some 30 years ago.
The closure of the footpath meant that the only other access to the Meeting House was a slippery, moss-covered cobbled path, which prevented several elderly Friends from attending.
Mr Cooper lodged four planning applications with Kirklees Council for retrospective and proposed works to his Grade II Green Hollows property.
In an email to Clr John Cook, who has taken up the Quakers’ cause, and two other local councillors, Louise Clarke, a Council planner stated: “I can confirm that the agent withdrew the four applications.
“Conservation and Design are unable to support the proposals and a meeting is to be arranged at the start of January with officers to discuss a way forward.”
The news was welcomed by Clr Cook. He said: “It’s good news that the planning applications have been withdrawn. As you know, this historical area is very dear to me.
“Any meeting that takes place in the New Year between officers and the agent must include liaising with myself. This area is too important not to have input from those that live and were born here.”
One possible course of action would be for the Quakers to pursue legal action to re-open the footpath.
But Peter Wade, from the Pontefract-based Peter Wade Consultancy – which is the agent for Mr Cooper in this matter – said that not all the applications had been withdrawn and blamed Clr Cook for delaying the repair work to the wall.
He said: “We can confirm that the application relating to reconstruction of the dangerous wall adjacent to the Quaker access path has been withdrawn to avoid a refusal and allow consideration of numerous objections.
“We have agreed with the planners that further negotiation is required of which the meeting in January will be an important part.
“Following a meeting on site at the outset of the works, which was attended by our client Mr Cooper, Clr Cook and a representative from the planners, it is our understanding that Clr Cook wishes for the wall to remain basically as is and that any injury which pedestrians may suffer as a result should be covered by insurance provided by Mr Cooper.
“This is a position which we can neither support nor condone.
“Mr Cooper is primarily concerned by the issues of public safety and his related liabilities.’’
Mr Wade added: “This was made clear to Clr Cook at the meeting in respect of the wall repairs at the outset.
“Clr Cook was specifically told by Mr Cooper that it was intended to provide a handrail and lights in addition to resurfacing the path.’’
And Mr Wade claimed: “This clearly has not been made known to the many objectors.
“The actions of Clr Cook have forced the pathway to be cordoned off in the interests of public safety and prevented the repair works which would have been completed weeks ago.’’
Clr Cook said: “This is not a repair to the wall, Mr Cooper wants to move the wall. Foundations for a new wall have been laid about three feet inside the footpath.
“I have absolutely no objections to the wall being repaired, I would welcome it. The wall needs repairing, as long as it stays where it is and then everybody can get back to some normality and start using the footpath again.”
