Madam,

I am writing to draw attention of Borth villagers to an undertaking that will mean the closure of vehicle access over a historical route in Borth, the main road to St Matthew’s Church.

Network Rail claimed that they were asked to close the vehicle access by the church. This has caused some resentment in the village against the church.

However, church wardens have confirmed that there has been no formal discussion of any closure at the Parochial Church Council. Network Rail also claim that they do not have to have a public consultation to close the existing road, arguing that access was only given under licence. A licence they could withdraw at a whim. However, I would challenge that.

In pre-railway days the village obtained fuel for fires from the peat on the bog. The two roads that later became the church access lead eastwards to the bog. I remember that, as late as the 1960s, villagers would use these roads to fetch peat for their gardens. So I would argue that the villagers have a long-standing vehicular right to use these roads. Most importantly, pre-dating the railway.

The closure is clearly going ahead as the alternative road has just been upgraded. I have no objection to a long overdue upgrade of that road. However, it is the issues that surround this matter that concern me. The villagers will apparently lose a long-standing right to the interests of others.

Yours etc,

JW Davies, Borth.

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