ECCLESHALL PARISH COUNCIL – FOOTPATHS COMMITTEE MINUTES

May 6^th 2026

 DRAFT

A meeting of the Footpaths Committee was held on Wednesday, May 6^th, at 7pm at Eccleshall Community Centre.

 Present were:-

Councillor R. Taylor (Chair)               Councillor D. Hall

Councillor D. Hill                                  Councillor S. Perren

Councillor C. Wilkins

Mrs S. J. Worden (Clerk)

Mr. N. Davenport

Mr. G. Cole

Observer: Cllr. D. Feneysey

No members of the public

1).    Apologies:-

Apologies were received from Cllr. Mifflin.

2).   To approve the minutes of the meeting held on February 4^th 2026

The minutes, which had been previously circulated, were agreed and signed.

3).    Review of current maintenance schedule, work completed to date and any new issues to consider.

The updated maintenance schedule was circulated for information prior to the meeting.

• Current items:
  • FP17 tree clearance works. The Clerk is awaiting an update from SCC Rights of Way team, who have logged a works request.
  • The Clerk will connect Cllr. Mifflin with Mr. Cole to progress the FP94 and FP49 repairs together.
  • Other items are ongoing.

• New items:
  • Walk 2 section 7 (Little Sugnall). A recent review of the walk noted the path opposite Hill Top Farm (FP84) is not passable due to barb wire on top of gate, shut gate and overgrown stile. Mr. Cole advised the gate can be opened and closed. Members felt that it would be seen as a barrier to the walk and agreed to add stile vegetation clearance works to the maintenance schedule.

4).    Proposed new Right of Way:

Members noted the recommendation by Staffordshire County Council in favour of reinstating a Right of Way at Wincote Lane to FP115. No concerns were raised.

5).   Walk Updates:

• Updates to the single walk leaflets are ongoing, as weather permits. Walks 1, 2, 6, 7 and 9 have been reviewed to date, and copies were circulated to all members prior to the meeting.

Issues and actions were agreed as follows and added to the maintenance schedule:

• Walk 1, section 1 (FP100): weight of ivy on a tree near Walk Mill end of path may lead to tree falling. Investigate to see if any works can be undertaken to help.
• Walk 1 section 5 (FP97): some confusion on the walk instructions. Mr. Davenport will re-walk to clarify.
• Walk 6 section 2 (FP139): stepping board off stile reference at the end of the section.
• Walk 6 section 7 (FP49): loose stile uprights for repair
• Walk 7 section 6: There is a section from Walton Hurst Lane before joining FP123 towards Chebsey where you must walk on the busy A5013. The walk highlights heavy traffic and the presence of two dangerous bends. Concerns were raised about the overall safety of the walk; however, it is the only walk to take in Chebsey. It was agreed to put the warning on the front cover of the walk leaflet so that it was clear and walkers were aware before starting the walk.
• Walk 7 section 7 (Fp15): third stile along is broken and wobbles, to repair.
• Walk 9 section 2 goes along Blurtons Lane. Note is also busy road with traffic, and can advise this on front page of walk leaflet
• Walk 9 section 5 (FP1, Ellenhall Parish). Way marker available but buried in hedgerow. Path outside of Eccleshall boundary for works.
• Walk 9 section 6 (FP119). Fingerpost finger is broken. Section 824 284 says turn right at first gate but no way marker. Can we add?

6).   Dog Fouling signage pack offer:

• Members were circulated an offer to purchase a dog fouling signage pack from Keep Britan Tidy, consisting of 10x A3 correx signs and 5 x 21cm vinyl circular bin stickers for £150 plus VAT (based on a bulk order price and a minimum level of interest from councils). The campaign material is based around the slogan ‘There is no such thing as the dog poo fairy’ with illustrations urging owners to pick up after their pets.  It was resolved to purchase the pack and for members to email the Clerk with suggested locations for consideration.

7).   Update on Keep Eccleshall Tidy Team (KETT)

• Work of the team is ongoing, and there is visible evidence of the reduced litter in the areas regularly patrolled.
• A resident has asked at an Ecclian Society if one of their children could litter pick as part of their D of E volunteering requirement. It was agreed they could, but it would need to be under parental supervision.

8).    Correspondence:

• There was no correspondence for consideration

9).   Items for next meeting

Any items can be forwarded to the Clerk.

10). Date of next meeting:-

Wednesday 12^th August 2026, at 7pm, Eccleshall Community Centre, prior to the Planning committee meeting.

There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 7.35pm.