20 Feb 2024
Just weeks after the St Albans Times highlighted the ongoing problems surrounding restricted footpath access at Oaklands College’s Smallford campus, it seems they will soon be reopened for public use.
Routes between between Sandpit Lane and Hatfield Road providing a vital link from the Alban Way to Jersey Farm have been closed to the public since last year.
The links are bridleways known as North and South Drive and the footpath known as East Drive, all of which traverse Oaklands College grounds.
Although an alternative footpath was created, it was largely impassable due to muddy conditions.
But now the college has announced that the original routes will be reopened imminently.
Claire Dolan, Deputy Principal (Strategy, Partnership & Business Development) revealed: “The college is excited to announce that most of the heavy building work has now taken place towards our new Construction Hub which will be ready for students as planned in the autumn term of 2024.
“Therefore, the footpaths that connect the campus will be reopened for the vast majority of the time, closed only when building works dictate that for health and safety reasons, relating to the construction works, they must be closed.
“This will be managed on a case-by-case basis in collaboration with Hertfordshire County Council and communicated to our neighbours, students, and staff with as much notice as possible.
“The date they will be reopened is being finalised between the college and HCC and will be communicated in due course.
“The college is aiming to reopen the pathways prior to the end of the current closure agreement which runs until the end of March.
“As the current phase of development is scheduled to finish by October 2024, the college will be applying for an extension beyond the existing agreement, limited to the temporary closure of the footpaths, only when major works are being undertaken and where it is in in the interest of public safety.
“It is very unfortunate that we have had to close the North Drive and a section of our alternative woodland walk, due to the contamination from the neighbouring housing development.
“This is not related to any of the building works taking place on our campus. We are working rapidly with the concerned parties so North Drive can be reopened safely, as soon as possible. We are sorry to be in this unforeseen position.
“We would like to thank those members of the public who are supporters of the college and our mission to transform lives. We would ask that as the pathways reopen that members of the community champion and advocate for the college by reporting any public inappropriate behaviour and stick to the designated routes. We will continue use of the popular alternative pathways and will continue works on these to make them even better for the public.|
“It has always been the college’s intention to strengthen our community relationships and extend the opportunities to open the campus for community involvement. Throughout 2023 there were several community events including the annual Oaklands Summer Festival, charity cycle rides, Lambing Weekend and the inaugural St Albans Foodies Festival which saw more than 10,000 visitors come to the campus. Not to mention open days through the year, sporting activities for all ages and the opening of the Oaklands Zoo every week to the public. In 2024 the college will be introducing several additional community events to build on the significant number of visitors to the college last year.”
“But questions remain over whether the existing routes will be restored to their previous status and if the new route will be a dedicated bridleway rather than merely a substitute for the existing rights of way.
Cyclist Mike Hartley, who has campaigned for the routes to reopen, said: “I’m very happy that Oaklands have finally seen sense on reopening the Oaklands bridleway and footpaths, returning a vital off road route to the St Albans Cycle route network. However given Oaklands’ responses during the closure debacle I’ll only believe it when I can ride to the Alban Way on my commute.
“I look forward to Oaklands’ stated intent to listen more to the community, which I hope is a lesson learned from their failings during this problem. The new route around the edge of the campus, once properly finished and dedicated as a right of way will be a good addition to the existing routes for walkers, cyclists and equestrians.
“I would like to thank Herts county council Rights of Way team, Jim Watson from Marshalswick North Residents Association and county councillor John Hale for their untiring efforts in showing how valuable this route is to Oaklands and the St Albans Times for publicity to St Albans’ residents.”
Meanwhile, Marshalswick North Residents Association says there are still issues on the Smallford campus site.
A spokesperson said: “The college has advised that most of the heavy construction works have now been completed and, in the future, the college will only require the public rights of way to be closed for safety grounds for limited periods.
“The college also states that it will be making an application to extend the current Temporary Traffic Restriction Order (TTRO) which expires at the end of March 2024. They state that the application makes it clear that the routes will only be closed when necessary to protect the safety of path users and will remain open at all other times.
“This would appear to be good news for all the users of the public rights of way who have been denied access to the paths since August 2023.
“However, even after the issue of this update, the college have not provided the same information to their security guards. Consequently, throughout the last weekend, the guards were still denying public access to all routes. This appears to be contrary to their stated commitment.
“We can all understand that during major construction works, there may be a need to occasionally close public rights of way for safety reasons. Were the college seeking a further unrestricted path closure as local people have endured for the last five months, MNRA would object strongly to the extension.
“If, as stated, the college are only seeking very occasional closures, we would not have an objection, provided the conditions for closure are fully stated in the TTRO, are vetted in advance and enforced by HCC.”
MNRA insists Oaklands must clearly define within the TTRO that:
1. Any closure is only implemented if the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) construction phase plan prepared by the relevant contractor substantiated the need for the closure.
2. Closures are for the minimum time when construction works are being undertaken.
3. Closures are applied to all users, not just members of the public.
4. Routes are opened as soon as it is safe to do so and are available out of normal construction times, in particular at weekends and evenings.
The spokesperson added: “If the college are to regain the trust of the local community, they need to adhere to their commitment to keep the paths open to all users at all times when necessary construction works are not being undertaken.
“They should also be notified a set period in advance to the local community via residents associations, local councillor representatives etc.
“MNRA will be working with all the other residents’ associations, groups and individuals representing local people who have been making their views known since the right of way closures took effect to achieve a satisfactory outcome.”
