PROWL - Public Rights of Way Langness

We've won!

Thank you for your help.

100% of the paths claimed by PRoWL have been approved as Rights of Way by the inspector.

Although one former landowner said people needed permission, and the other landowner said all path users were trespassing, the inspector found that all the routes had indeed been used as of right for enough years for them to have become highways, and needing to be added to the Rights of Way map.

To read the minister's statement to Tynwald and see the map of Rights of Way that will be created on and around Langness - Click here

To read the full 150 page inquiry report - Click here

It happened that May 1 saw the opening of the footpath around the airport runway extension, and May 11 has seen a further addition to the coastal path being accepted by the Department of Infrastructure.

Instead of reaching Derbyhaven from Santon Gorge and having to follow the road to Castletown, we will be able to walk along to the Golf Links Hotel and follow the eastern coast of Langness to the lighthouse, the foghorn, Port Bravag, Langness Point and then back along the west coast and Sandwick. Just like people used to do.

May 2010 has been a good month for footpath users around Castletown.

And the coastal path is not the only thing – there are the four paths to the Herring Tower (including the one that DAFF put a fence across!), the grassland paths radiating from the car park and the paths from the Haunted House. Although some parts of the media seemed wilfully blinkered on the matter, and never saw past the celebrity angle, and the 250 yards behind the barricades, we got on with the job of seeing a grand total of six miles of paths being recognised as highways

The barriers won’t be coming down by the weekend, but the DoI is working to see the report’s recommendations put into effect a.s.a.p. There have to be changes to the ‘definitive map’, these changes have to be approved by the High Court, the landowners have to be given a chance to challenge the changes (though they’ve had their chance already, really, so it’s hard to see that being a problem) etc etc. That’ll all waste the summer, which is a pity, but after five years of waiting, the end is in sight.

So, thanks, everyone.

Thanks to the hundreds of you - the people who phoned the DoT to protest when the obstructions first appeared, the people who signed an affidavit, the people who wrote letters and particularly the people who turned up in person at the Inquiry. It wasn’t a pleasant experience for everyone, being cross-questioned and confused by the finest barrister money could buy, but the honesty, quiet dignity and determination to see justice prevail shone through.

Thanks to the people who provided us with stationery, or stamps, or designed the leaflets, or paid for leaflets to be printed, or distributed them all over the south of the Island, or covered the cost of giving a free lunch to all Tynwald members who attended our briefing session. Thanks to the people who looked after the web site, or gave us legal advice (it wasn’t easy being threatened with court action on both sides of the Irish sea, and thoughts on case law and legal precedents were very helpful), or spoke up for us in Tynwald.

Thanks to the wider thousands – not just those of you who signed up as PRoWL supporters but also the people who stopped us in the street to say you were right behind us, and all your workmates were, too. It was all very heartening, and helped the campaign to keep going.

And finally, thanks to the ‘inner circle’ of the PRoWL steering group. You might wonder who they all were but if you realised that one advocate would send threatening letters to anyone he identified with PRoWL, you’d understand!

We did it.

The network of paths around and across one of the Island’s finest, most scenic, most wildlife-rich, most historic landscape has been preserved for ourselves and future generations to enjoy.

There are still final hurdles to overcome before the path is physically re-opened - but the hard battle is over. Thank you.

More info: Ian Costain, Public Rights of Way Langness
Tel: 837059
E-mail: prowl@manx.net

A few of the messages we've received from supporters since the announcement:

* A wonderful piece of news. Thank you, thank you!

* Hurrah! Well done!

* Just saw the victory via the BBC News website. (sorry I’m very late to the table...) Well done everybody. A victory for those who want to enjoy the great outdoors. For too long the minority have restricted access to the majority.

* Thank you for all your efforts that have been justly rewarded by the contents of the Langness Report - regardless of the results of any appeal. The question is why were your efforts necessary and why have we had to wait 5 years when it seems to me that, on the evidence of the Report, there was never a case to answer.

* Fan mail for PROWL. Thank you.

* Well done!! You have done a really excellent job, words cannot express the significance of what you have achieved, be proud of yourselves, be very proud.

* Well done!!!!!

* Please accept my grateful thanks for all that you have achieved. This is a quite marvellous result, and all of the PRoWL team deserve our gratitude for a tough campaign brilliantly fought.

* The Prowl group can be rightly satisfied for a job well done for the benefit of all the Isle of Man residents and visitors. Shame that some might not understand what they might have lost and have now gained!

* All residents on the Island are in your debt. Thank you for making our government uphold the law.

* Thank goodness! You did a wonderful job!

* Congratulations you prowlers. We are very proud of you up here in Ramsey. As birders we love Langness. As supporters of the campaign to revive Queen’s Pier we are very well aware how difficult it is to deal with the intransigent authorities in our island’s government.

* Hi, what great news, fantastic.

a a a a a For more info - or to support us, please get in touch: prowl@manx.net PROWL, 1 Castle Street, Castletown, IM9 1LF Or call Ian on: 01624 837 059 Support us now? Click here	t Working to win access around and across Langness for everyone
	We've won! Thank you for your help. 100% of the paths claimed by PRoWL have been approved as Rights of Way by the inspector. Although one former landowner said people needed permission, and the other landowner said all path users were trespassing, the inspector found that all the routes had indeed been used as of right for enough years for them to have become highways, and needing to be added to the Rights of Way map. To read the minister's statement to Tynwald and see the map of Rights of Way that will be created on and around Langness - Click here To read the full 150 page inquiry report - Click here It happened that May 1 saw the opening of the footpath around the airport runway extension, and May 11 has seen a further addition to the coastal path being accepted by the Department of Infrastructure. Instead of reaching Derbyhaven from Santon Gorge and having to follow the road to Castletown, we will be able to walk along to the Golf Links Hotel and follow the eastern coast of Langness to the lighthouse, the foghorn, Port Bravag, Langness Point and then back along the west coast and Sandwick. Just like people used to do. May 2010 has been a good month for footpath users around Castletown. And the coastal path is not the only thing – there are the four paths to the Herring Tower (including the one that DAFF put a fence across!), the grassland paths radiating from the car park and the paths from the Haunted House. Although some parts of the media seemed wilfully blinkered on the matter, and never saw past the celebrity angle, and the 250 yards behind the barricades, we got on with the job of seeing a grand total of six miles of paths being recognised as highways The barriers won’t be coming down by the weekend, but the DoI is working to see the report’s recommendations put into effect a.s.a.p. There have to be changes to the ‘definitive map’, these changes have to be approved by the High Court, the landowners have to be given a chance to challenge the changes (though they’ve had their chance already, really, so it’s hard to see that being a problem) etc etc. That’ll all waste the summer, which is a pity, but after five years of waiting, the end is in sight. So, thanks, everyone. Thanks to the hundreds of you - the people who phoned the DoT to protest when the obstructions first appeared, the people who signed an affidavit, the people who wrote letters and particularly the people who turned up in person at the Inquiry. It wasn’t a pleasant experience for everyone, being cross-questioned and confused by the finest barrister money could buy, but the honesty, quiet dignity and determination to see justice prevail shone through. Thanks to the people who provided us with stationery, or stamps, or designed the leaflets, or paid for leaflets to be printed, or distributed them all over the south of the Island, or covered the cost of giving a free lunch to all Tynwald members who attended our briefing session. Thanks to the people who looked after the web site, or gave us legal advice (it wasn’t easy being threatened with court action on both sides of the Irish sea, and thoughts on case law and legal precedents were very helpful), or spoke up for us in Tynwald. Thanks to the wider thousands – not just those of you who signed up as PRoWL supporters but also the people who stopped us in the street to say you were right behind us, and all your workmates were, too. It was all very heartening, and helped the campaign to keep going. And finally, thanks to the ‘inner circle’ of the PRoWL steering group. You might wonder who they all were but if you realised that one advocate would send threatening letters to anyone he identified with PRoWL, you’d understand! We did it. The network of paths around and across one of the Island’s finest, most scenic, most wildlife-rich, most historic landscape has been preserved for ourselves and future generations to enjoy. There are still final hurdles to overcome before the path is physically re-opened - but the hard battle is over. Thank you. More info: Ian Costain, Public Rights of Way Langness Tel: 837059 E-mail: prowl@manx.net A few of the messages we've received from supporters since the announcement: * A wonderful piece of news. Thank you, thank you! * Hurrah! Well done! * Just saw the victory via the BBC News website. (sorry I’m very late to the table...) Well done everybody. A victory for those who want to enjoy the great outdoors. For too long the minority have restricted access to the majority. * Thank you for all your efforts that have been justly rewarded by the contents of the Langness Report - regardless of the results of any appeal. The question is why were your efforts necessary and why have we had to wait 5 years when it seems to me that, on the evidence of the Report, there was never a case to answer. * Fan mail for PROWL. Thank you. * Well done!! You have done a really excellent job, words cannot express the significance of what you have achieved, be proud of yourselves, be very proud. * Well done!!!!! * Please accept my grateful thanks for all that you have achieved. This is a quite marvellous result, and all of the PRoWL team deserve our gratitude for a tough campaign brilliantly fought. * The Prowl group can be rightly satisfied for a job well done for the benefit of all the Isle of Man residents and visitors. Shame that some might not understand what they might have lost and have now gained! * All residents on the Island are in your debt. Thank you for making our government uphold the law. * Thank goodness! You did a wonderful job! * Congratulations you prowlers. We are very proud of you up here in Ramsey. As birders we love Langness. As supporters of the campaign to revive Queen’s Pier we are very well aware how difficult it is to deal with the intransigent authorities in our island’s government. * Hi, what great news, fantastic.
	"When the stranger first comes upon the beauties of this spot he will be delighted." Jenkinson's Practical Guide to the Isle of Man