Villagers demand answers over blocked footpath
Frustrated villagers stormed a building site to demand answers over a blocked footpath that should have been reopened.
Transcript
00:00Well, we're here today because this footpath, which has been closed for six months, was
00:05due to open on Saturday. It hasn't been and, once again, it just shows the contempt that
00:11developers have for the local residents, the local businesses and everybody affected by
00:16their development.
00:18We are here. This is the old footpath that they've closed and now goes through houses.
00:26This is the new footpath that is supposed to replace it, which they have failed to put
00:32in place.
00:33Oh, it's a well-used footpath. It's been here for donkey's years. It's part of a big circle
00:39that people can use for walking. It's also for people who do shorter walks. It's a nice
00:45round circuit that people can use. So, it's just part of that network of footpaths that
00:51we have that people use to get from A to B, but also to go and walk for relaxation,
00:56for exercise, active travel, all those things that the government is supposed to be encouraging.
01:02I do a lot of walking in the area, walking through Borden to get to Sittingbourne, to
01:06go to the gym, to go to the shops and so on. It has made it so difficult. I now have to
01:11go up into the village or walk along the A2 with all the air pollution and everything
01:16else from the amount of traffic and the lorries and such that are going through. So, it's
01:21not pleasant.
01:22Actually, during the course of the winter, because you can't walk through this, I have
01:26to drive. So, I have to drive into town, which means I have to spend longer in the gym, which
01:30is great as far as doing that, but then I can't enjoy the countryside. I can't see my
01:36neighbours and such because I'm in the car and cars become little boxes that you have
01:41no contact with anybody else other than growling at them when they cut in front of you.