COSSINGTON UNDERPASS TO BE INVESTIGATED

4.42.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 13th Apr 2005

Cossington Underpass, unusable for pedestrians and horse riders

The Cossington Underpass which goes under the A228 Blue Bell Hill has, for some time now, been unusable by pedestrians and horse riders.

For months, serious flooding has virtually made this former popular routeway obsolete.

Investigations by Geoff Rowe, Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Malling Rural North East, has identified that the public right of way goes up to the entrance on both sides of the underpass but does not include the underpass itself, which is privately owned.

Kent County Council officers have now agreed to investigate the local status, attempt to resolve the flooding and adopt the underpass for appropriate purposes.

The anomaly is further compounded by the fact that the National Cycle Route goes through the underpass but legally pedestrians and horse riders should cross the A228 dual carriageway.

Geoff says: "To attempt this would be foolhardy and dangerous and that is why it is necessary to resolve both the flooding and legal status as a matter of urgency."