OSWESTRY councillors will be asked to give their comments on the potential diversion of a footpath across school fields which applicants say will give great protection to schoolchildren.
The town council’s development and planning committee will be meeting at the Guildhall at 7pm on Wednesday and will be asked to discuss comments to be added to Shropshire Council, who has received a request to divert the footpath.
Shropshire Council has written to Arren Roberts, Oswestry Town Council asking for a response after the request for the diversion was made, with the applicants stating that there is a necessity for the path to be moved.
Emily Parsons-Jones, from Shropshire Council, said: “Footpath 10 currently crosses Oswestry School’s Maes-y-Llan playing field.
“The school has experienced a number of issues relating to the foot[path over the years, including clearing dog mess from their playing pitches and unleashed dogs chasing stray balls and/or school pupils.
“They are also concerned about safeguarding and the potential for the general public having potentially unsupervised access to their school children, some of whom can be vulnerable.
“The school has recently received planning permission for an additional car park adjacent to Upper Brook Street.
“The proposed diversion route would move the footpath to the edge of the playing fields, starting from the new car park and running adjacent to the boundary with properties in Lutton Close and Our Lady and St Oswald’s Catholic Primary School, before terminating on Footpath Seven, known as Penylan Walk.
“Unlike the existing footpath, which is on a slope and gets very muddy and slippery in winter, the proposed path would have a compacted stone surface.
“As the path is proposed to be enclosed, there would not be a need for furniture on either end of the path, unlike on the existing foot[path which is subject to a stile and a pedestrian gate.
“This would open up the footpath to more users e.g. people who use a wheelchair, mobility scooter or pushchair.”
Councillors will also consider a number of planning applications.