Footpath work leads to village clash (From Oxford Mail)

Footpath work leads to village clash

4:08pm Wednesday 3rd March 2010 in

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A PARISH councillor has welcomed a new village footpath – despite coming under fire for backing the initiative.

When Weston-on-the-Green Parish Council applied for a grant to build the path alongside Bletchingdon Road, it hoped the 180-metre path, which took a week to build and opened last December, would improve village life, but it ended up causing a row.

And that led to an investigation by Cherwell District Council in a bid to solve the dispute.

Parish councillor John Roper spearheaded a campaign to get the path built, to make it safer for people walking to the village playing field and nearby woodland.

But last August, Robin Stafford Allen, of Mill Lane, lodged a complaint against Mr Roper, alleging he had an interest in the project because it improved access to his home.

He claimed Mr Roper would personally benefit from the £8,000 footpath, because it ran along the verge opposite his house.

Conduct rules state that any councillor who has a personal interest in an issue must declare it at meetings where it is discussed.

Cherwell’s standards board ruled Mr Roper had breached the code by failing to register an interest in the footpath project, but said the matter was not serious enough to warrant further action.

Since then anonymous posters have appeared in the village, some appearing to insult Mr Stafford Allen and others making allegations about members of the parish council.

In a bid to get the situation resolved, Cherwell stepped in to offer mediation.

Mr Stafford Allen, who has made a series of complaints in recent years about how the parish council is run, said: “I’m angry and disgusted with the behaviour of this councillor – and disappointed that Cherwell seem to dismiss parish council matters as trivial.”

Mr Roper said the path was an asset for the whole village and ensured safe access to the woodland area.

He said: “The path has greatly improved the approach to the village and road safety.

“It has not caused a split in the community.

“What it has caused is me being reported to the standards board for having a personal interest, because my house is almost opposite the playing field. I think it’s absolute nonsense.

“The standards board said I committed a technical breach, but it was too trivial to pursue.”

A Cherwell District Council spokesman said: “The council takes its responsibility to investigate complaints, relating to alleged breaches of the code of conduct, very seriously.

“However, the council does not discuss individual cases.

“The council works hard to maintain and promote high standards of ethical conduct by councillors in the district.”

The footpath was funded with grants from Oxfordshire County Council and the landfill communities fund run by the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment.