Footpath might be diverted into villages to "improve security" at vineyard

An application comes before Dorset Council next week for the change of route at Muston Farm.

If approved it will divert parts of footpaths 9 and 22 and parts of bridleways 7,8,23 and 32.

Councillors are being told that Muston Farm, Piddlehinton, is currently being redeveloped and vines planted in the fields to the west for the future production of sparkling wine. Some of the paths also fall into the Puddletown area.

The business also has several residential properties including Muston Farm Cottages which have been developed, with further proposals for existing derelict buildings in the future.

The Dorset Council northern area planning committee will hear on June 18 that this development has led to an increase in traffic to the residential properties and that the proposed diversion will improve the privacy and security for the owners because footpath and bridleway users will be diverted away from the access roads. The new vineyard business has increased farm traffic and heavy machinery requiring access to the site and the existing bridleways and footpaths run through the middle of the area.

“The proposed diversion will improve the security of the vineyard business and the public will also benefit from a safer route away from vehicles and machinery,” concludes an officer report which is recommending accepting the changes.

A consultation in June last year resulted in three letters of objection and two in support of the changes – as a result of which amendments were made and a second consultation held in October. That resulted in one further objection to the amended proposals and one former objection being maintained.

Two objectors raised concerns over the width of the new bridleway, the use of barbed wire on fencing/gates and the location of a helicopter landing site near to the bridleway. The landing site has since been moved to the north of Muston Manor and some of the barbed wire removed.