Madam,

As residents of Mawddach Crescent, and in the interests of balance, we wish to put forward the following points:

The “much-loved pathway” is a 100-metre length of track in front of the houses in Mawddach Crescent, used by residents to access their houses by car and on foot. The frontage is privately owned by the residents of each house.

The gate and fences were erected in 1999 but, despite this, there was no claim to make the frontage into a Public Right of Way until 2014, despite the alleged frequent use of the route by Huw Roberts and his supporters. In fact various “private” signs have been present at the entrance to Mawddach Crescent for decades.

The “muddy path” (only muddy in wet weather - show me a public footpath in Gwynedd which is never muddy!) at the back of the crescent is the existing Public Right of Way as depicted on the definitive map (which was determined by the local council and the local community in the 1950/60s) and as directed by the Llwybr Cyhoeddus signposts at either end of Mawddach Crescent.

The footpath to the back has always been, and continues to be, used by the general public. Crescent residents are not responsible for the upkeep of the footpath. Rubbish bins are placed at the back of the houses to enable access by the council’s waste collection vehicle, but they do not cause any obstruction to walkers.

Mawddach Crescent residents object to the proposal to make the land in front of their houses into a Public Right of Way for the following reasons:

1) Historically the few walkers that have passed in front of the houses have been challenged, and there have been private signs for decades, and gates and fences for the past 19 years, making it clear that there is no public right of way.

2) The land in front of each house belongs to the house owner up to and including the sea wall. Public use would hugely affect the privacy and security of the residents.

3) The proposed Public Right of Way - which is approximately 100 metres long - duplicates a perfectly good, existing Public Right of Way.

Yours etc,

Helen Doig and David Streatfield, Mawddach Crescent, Arthog.

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