21 Oct 2023
Construction work on the grounds of Oaklands College has resulted in the temporary closure of much-used rights of way through the campus, with an alternative footpath excessively muddy, incomplete and largely impassable.
These paths – between Sandpit Lane and Hatfield Road – are an important route for many residents travelling from the Alban Way to Jersey Farm.
They say the closure was not publicised and the college’s rationale has been poorly explained, with no viable road alternative other than busy Oaklands Lane. An alternative footpath was eventually opened but is plagued with accessibility issues.
It is believed the college has obtained a temporary closure notice that will last till the end of February 2024 and must apply to the Secretary of State for an extension to that notice.
Cyclist Mike Hartley took it upon himself to test out the new route: “I was on my way back from the Cottonmill Cycle Hub and since I had time I decided to take the picturesque route along the Alban Way and up through Oaklands. Just the route that people riding with kids or people wanting to avoid traffic would take. It’s usually a quiet, picturesque and easy route with a couple of road crossings but otherwise little roads from door to door – less than a mile of road in the whole 4.5-mile journey.
“Beyond there there’s a short bit of what looks like crushed Tarmac planings followed by bare earth with some patching of clay/sand gravel in some of the dips. This will all get pretty muddy once it rains more and is only really passable now on a mountain bike or something able to take mud. The route is picturesque, winding through the trees. It stops at the end of the field, and at this point you join the ‘final phase opening soon’.
“At this point the route becomes a bare earth surface where the field grass has been removed and there is no signage that the rest of the route is incomplete.
“Incomplete is a very generous term. The cleared route follows the field edge but then stops at a fence next to the housing development. There’s a grass cut swathe in the field beyond and what looks like a possible route next to the housing development. This is impassable.”
A notice on the fence next to the houses explains that the path ends at this point while work is underway to safely fence off the college’s horse paddocks, and encourages walkers to return the way they came.
But Mike was determined to get through to the other side: “I lifted the bike over a couple of fences to get to the cut swathe. There’s a possible, better, route if a couple of gates were opened.
“Trudging up the cut swathe I hit another fence to climb, luckily with a removable bit of wire which made it slightly easier. The top of the swathe hits fences again – climb these and there’s no obvious way to go except up the side of a house.
“Beyond that again no obvious route, but with a bit of exploring down what looks like a cycleway you’re met with a small technical section to drop off the Tarmac onto a short path section. Enjoyable enough on a mountain bike but anyone else will struggle.
“Beyond that, more stripped grass earth, this time with extra half removed brush. Mind your ankles. More stripped grass beyond and it looks like this section will get really muddy with the rain. It’s already got some evidence of water erosion and puddles.
“Then it’s through an open gate and back onto the existing route, through the gate and out onto Sandpit Lane.
“There’s a lot of work to be done to make this section complete and even more work to make it easily passable to commuters on bikes. The whole diversion is also probably twice the distance of the existing route. It has the potential to be a nice country route if it’s ever finished but has a huge amount of work left to do.”
County councillor John Hale said: “The rights of way through Oaklands College are a significant route for many residents in the surrounding communities for commuting to work, school and leisure pursuits.
“The temporary closure with minimal notice and no consultation is regrettable and I hope the routes can be reopened as soon as practicable.
“Any permanent closure, without a good alternative route, will be strongly opposed by the local communities. As the county councillor for the area I am working with local residents associations and other groups to get this matter resolved. I have been contacted by a number of residents for whom this closure is causing significant inconvenience.
“Residents do not understand why the route is usable by students and others going to the college, but is deemed not safe for others.”
Neighbours of the college, who asked to remain anonymous, said they have concerns about the felling of trees to create the alternative footpath.
They said: “We have been residents of Wynches Farm Drive since its inception in 2000. Our house backs on to the long-established Home Wood woodland to the west of the college grounds.
“Without any form of consultation or notice we became aware of trees being cut down by workmen at the start of September. It turns out the college has cut a ‘temporary’ footpath through the woods to the rear of our property as an alternative access route following the closure of the existing bridleways running through the college.
“This new path which has been cut through ancient woodland seems completely unnecessary and will have disturbed the thriving wildlife. The route will not be suitable through the wetter winter months or be safe at night. It has also now worryingly exposed the rear of our properties in Wynches Farm Drive to a heightened burglary risk.
“More generally the existing public footpaths and bridleways are vital to local people for commuting by foot or cycle and their sustained closure for construction seems unnecessary.
“We have seen some correspondence from the college that this new route is temporary, but you have to wonder due to their lack of notification or consultation if this is part of a wider plan to get rid of the existing bridleways in an effort to maximise the residential development opportunities within the college grounds.”
Oaklands College insists the removal of trees was simply woodland management and one dead tree which had partially fallen was removed for safety reasons.
A spokesperson added: “It’s possible some standing dead trees may have been cut down. Once a tree dies it may have to be felled for safety reasons but the trunk is generally left for the benefit of habitat.”
The spokesperson did not provide a statement in response to concerns over the alternative footpath, so the St Albans Times walked the length of the alternative footpath to investigate first hand what was going on. We saw the rear of properties in Wynches Farm Drive left totally exposed due to the removal of vegetation, extensive areas where the mud was so thick it made the route virtually impossible to navigate, and a great number of chopped down trees, as evidenced in the photographs accompanying this article.
