Oxford A34 ‘dangerous’ walk fears if no public right of way

A North Hinksey man has issued another urgent appeal in his bid to secure public rights of way status for two paths on the floodplain between North Hinksey and South Hinksey and near The Fishes pub.

‘Bulstake Path’ and ‘Cable Road’ in Hinksey were previously permissive paths between 2000 and 2011 which means they are private land but the landowner voluntarily allows it for public use.

But the landowner reportedly issued a declaration that unless the path can be shown to be public, it will no longer be accessible for anyone.

In 2024 campaigners collected 63 evidence statements from people who used the path for 20 years.

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The group collected an additional 11 evidence forms, seven of which showed the person had used the path for the full period of 1980 to 2000.

In March the council’s draft decision revealed the path would not be a right of way despite 36 people using the path before 1999.

Now, campaigners are trying to reach more residents to gather more evidence the path has been well used over the years.

If successful, the paths would be legally protected so landowners could not block or build across them, joining existing rights of way such as Willow Walk and another route from The Fishes pub towards Osney Mead Industrial Estate.

However, if the bid fails and people don’t come forward to say they used to walk on the path decades ago, the community would lose a pathway that is frequently used.