PROWL - Public Rights of Way Langness

Inquiry into Langness paths

Public Rights of Way (Langness) is pleased that an inquiry into the status of the Langness paths is being established, and expects it to take place during the summer of 2009.

This would not have been possible without the support of many hundreds of people and many members of Tynwald. We are grateful to you all.

IMPORTANT: We understand that correspondence with the Department of Transport on the Langness issue will all be made available to the Inquiry Inspector.

If anyone wishes their correspondence with the Attorney General also to be made available, then copies of such letters could be sent direct to the DoT, or a letter could be written to the Attorney General asking for previous letters to be forwarded.

PUBLIC INQUIRY DATE ANNOUNCED

A public notice has been published and the inquiry will take place at
Mount Murray on Monday, 20 July beginning at 9.30.

Anyone wishing to submit new evidence must provide it to Chris Hannon at the Department of Transport no later than Thursday, 9 July. All evidence will be available for public viewing at the DoT’s offices at the Sea Terminal from the following day.

Anyone wishing to appear at the inquiry should notify the DoT as soon as possible.

PRoWL would urge anyone who can testify to their regular, long term usage of the network of Langness paths, ‘as of right’, without permission being sought or granted, to make themselves available at the inquiry, however daunting the prospect might seem!

Written evidence is very useful, but oral evidence can be even more compelling, and we don’t need to tell you that there’s a lot riding on the outcome of this inquiry.

If you are willing to stand up and be counted in this way, it would be helpful if you could let us know, as well as contacting the DoT.

Even if you are not appearing in person as a witness, you will, of course, be able to attend the inquiry as a member of the general public.

All the paths

Our Rights of Way group has viewed the closure of one section of traditional footpath, used ‘as of right’ for generations, as being the thin end of a wedge which see the public excluded from further sections, one bit at a time, unless challenged from the start.

Only by mounting the case that, under Manx law, these paths had become ‘highways’ and that any closure was unlawful, could we have safeguarded rights around and across Langness for future generations.

The inquiry will consider the status of all the paths – not only the circular coastal path between the car park and Dreswick Point, south of the lighthouse, but also the Langness Point paths, the Herring Tower paths and the various well-established routes north and east of the car park, such as the one to the ‘Provider’ stone.

Further evidence

Although time is running out, and the deadline for submitting written evidence is approaching, we should still like to hear from you if …..

You have oral or written evidence of the history of Langness which would indicate unrestricted use of its footpaths during the 19th or 20th centuries

and/or

You could swear a statement that you know certain paths well, walked them regularly for many years, never saw any path closure ( even for a single day, even something as flimsy as string fastened across a route ) until the section around the lighthouse was closed in 2005, and ( until 2005 ) never saw a notice saying that use of the paths was only by permission of the landowner.

Time is short. If you’re going to contact us, please do it today! Thanks.

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
	Inquiry into Langness paths Public Rights of Way (Langness) is pleased that an inquiry into the status of the Langness paths is being established, and expects it to take place during the summer of 2009. This would not have been possible without the support of many hundreds of people and many members of Tynwald. We are grateful to you all. IMPORTANT: We understand that correspondence with the Department of Transport on the Langness issue will all be made available to the Inquiry Inspector. If anyone wishes their correspondence with the Attorney General also to be made available, then copies of such letters could be sent direct to the DoT, or a letter could be written to the Attorney General asking for previous letters to be forwarded. PUBLIC INQUIRY DATE ANNOUNCED A public notice has been published and the inquiry will take place at Mount Murray on Monday, 20 July beginning at 9.30. Anyone wishing to submit new evidence must provide it to Chris Hannon at the Department of Transport no later than Thursday, 9 July. All evidence will be available for public viewing at the DoT’s offices at the Sea Terminal from the following day. Anyone wishing to appear at the inquiry should notify the DoT as soon as possible. PRoWL would urge anyone who can testify to their regular, long term usage of the network of Langness paths, ‘as of right’, without permission being sought or granted, to make themselves available at the inquiry, however daunting the prospect might seem! Written evidence is very useful, but oral evidence can be even more compelling, and we don’t need to tell you that there’s a lot riding on the outcome of this inquiry. If you are willing to stand up and be counted in this way, it would be helpful if you could let us know, as well as contacting the DoT. Even if you are not appearing in person as a witness, you will, of course, be able to attend the inquiry as a member of the general public. All the paths Our Rights of Way group has viewed the closure of one section of traditional footpath, used ‘as of right’ for generations, as being the thin end of a wedge which see the public excluded from further sections, one bit at a time, unless challenged from the start. Only by mounting the case that, under Manx law, these paths had become ‘highways’ and that any closure was unlawful, could we have safeguarded rights around and across Langness for future generations. The inquiry will consider the status of all the paths – not only the circular coastal path between the car park and Dreswick Point, south of the lighthouse, but also the Langness Point paths, the Herring Tower paths and the various well-established routes north and east of the car park, such as the one to the ‘Provider’ stone. Further evidence Although time is running out, and the deadline for submitting written evidence is approaching, we should still like to hear from you if ….. You have oral or written evidence of the history of Langness which would indicate unrestricted use of its footpaths during the 19th or 20th centuries and/or You could swear a statement that you know certain paths well, walked them regularly for many years, never saw any path closure ( even for a single day, even something as flimsy as string fastened across a route ) until the section around the lighthouse was closed in 2005, and ( until 2005 ) never saw a notice saying that use of the paths was only by permission of the landowner. Time is short. If you’re going to contact us, please do it today! Thanks.
	"When the stranger first comes upon the beauties of this spot he will be delighted." Jenkinson's Practical Guide to the Isle of Man