Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Clash over Snettisham footpath after resident submits plans for annexe in her garden




It was a common lockdown trend which saw people create new office space at their property to allow them to work from the comfort of their own home.

But just such a scheme in the charming village of Snettisham has sparked a four-year feud between previously friendly neighbours.

The row stemmed from Claire Singh’s seemingly simple plan to build an annexe in her garden, through which the River Ingol flows, where she could do the paperwork for her job as a funeral celebrant.

Snettisham Annexe location, in Claire Singh's garden
Snettisham Annexe location, in Claire Singh's garden

But things got decidedly less simple after the scheme led to the discovery of a long-forgotten 20-metre footpath which is shown on decades-old charts running through their garden.

It passes right through the spot where the annexe was to be built, prompting Ms Singh to seek to remove it from the records as a public right of way.

It made no difference to walkers, as they were already able to get past the property on a well-established path which skirts Ms Singh’s path and is six metres longer in length.

The footpath route including the existing path (in orange) and the historic path through Claire Singh's garden (in yellow). Picture: Google Maps
The footpath route including the existing path (in orange) and the historic path through Claire Singh's garden (in yellow). Picture: Google Maps
The footpath route and diversion. Picture: West Norfolk Council
The footpath route and diversion. Picture: West Norfolk Council

However, neighbours argued the newly-discovered footpath should remain and got the support of the Open Spaces Society (OSS), which campaigns for the protection of public rights of way.

What followed was a lengthy wrangle, which has seen neighbours who were previously on good terms fall out.

The row has raged on West Norfolk Council’s planning website and led to accusations the objectors were attempting to mislead officials and that the level of backlash in the village had been blown out of proportion, with objectors using different aliases to give the impression there was a bigger swell of opposition than there was.

ANNEXE AGITATION

A map of Snettisham from 1949. Picture: West Norfolk Council
A map of Snettisham from 1949. Picture: West Norfolk Council

Ms Singh, who lives with her partner, lodged an application to construct an annexe – a wooden structure on stilts – in 2021 – at her home, Ingol Falls House, in a quiet cul-de-sac called Mill Gardens, close to Snettisham’s Grade I listed water mill and mill pond, which dates back to the 1800s.

The proposal prompted objections, mostly from Eric Godber – a leading figure in northwest Norfolk’s pétanque community – and his wife Margaret, who live two doors away.

The pair were concerned the scheme would have an adverse visual impact on the surroundings and that it would overlook neighbouring properties.

The historic water mill, which is next to the entrance to the footpath. Picture: Owen Sennitt
The historic water mill, which is next to the entrance to the footpath. Picture: Owen Sennitt

But things really escalated after Norfolk County Council’s public rights of way officer discovered the footpath running through the garden, which was registered in 1949 and would be blocked by the new building.

The tiny section is part of a longer route that connects the A149 Lynn Road to the west of the village with the B1440 to the east.

It travels along the banks of the Ingol – a rare chalk stream which rises to the west of the village of Shernborne before flowing out into the Wash at Snettisham beach.

The entrance to the Snettisham footpath - the already-existing route. Picture: Owen Sennitt
The entrance to the Snettisham footpath - the already-existing route. Picture: Owen Sennitt

However, the path was not in use, with walkers instead using another path, metres to the south, which avoided Ms Singh’s property.

Council officials investigated and concluded the registration of the route in 1949 was likely made by mistake, calling it a “70-year-old drafting error”.

They suspect it was never intended to be a public right of way, with the southern path the original and correct route.

This led West Norfolk councillors to approve the annexe plans, on the proviso Ms Singh got permission for the footpath to be officially ‘extinguished’ from the records.

The currently-used footpath in Snettisham, that runs behind Claire Singh's garden. Picture: Owen Sennitt
The currently-used footpath in Snettisham, that runs behind Claire Singh's garden. Picture: Owen Sennitt

But the Godbers, who gained backing from the OSS, disagreed and argued the existence of the path in the records meant the development should not go ahead.

Both the Godbers and the OSS objected to the changes to the path and appealed to the Planning Inspectorate – the government department that presides over rights of way disputes – to block the move to remove the path from the records.

In a letter, Ian Witham, of the OSS, said the public would be “disadvantaged” by the changes and questioned why nothing had been done to reopen the path, saying Ms Singh continued to “wilfully obstruct” it, with a fence blocking one end.

Snettisham's old water mill. Picture: Owen Sennitt
Snettisham's old water mill. Picture: Owen Sennitt

The OSS also complained changing the route would mean walkers would no longer be able to enjoy views of the mill pond and that it would be “less interesting”.

Other people living nearby, and elsewhere in Norfolk, got involved and also submitted objections.

However, there was also growing support in the village for Ms Singh, with other neighbours claiming the objectors were blowing the issue out of proportion.

NEIGHBOURS CLASH

Frustration grew in the community as a decision over the footpath loomed.

In a statement to the Planning Inspectorate, Ms Singh vented her displeasure, calling the long list of objections “misleading” and saying that no one had complained about not being able to use the route through her garden since she moved there in 2006 until it was discovered four years ago.

She also said there were only a few objectors to the scheme and that they were posting comments on the council’s planning portal under different aliases, such as their maiden names, which gave the impression that more people were against the plans.

The annexe designs
The annexe designs

She said: “I am disappointed and saddened by their comments as we were all friendly neighbours previously and they continue this quest even though they have either moved away or are in the process of doing so.

“I am also totally bewildered by the Open Spaces Society statement of case as it would seem they haven’t even been here.

“I own the land for both the existing and proposed alternate sections of footpath and I can only see benefits for the proposed section, rather than the existing route, being used for both the public and myself.”

ROUTE DIVERTED

Ultimately, the Godbers’ and OSS’ efforts to block the footpath from being removed failed and in November last year, the changes were confirmed.

Andrew McGlone, the government official who presided over the case, ruled that there would be limited benefits from maintaining the path through Ms Singh’s garden.

He said: “Overall, the disadvantages that arise from the Order and the development are not sufficient to outweigh the advantages of the development.”

An architect's drawing of the area
An architect's drawing of the area

The decision came just in time for Ms Singh, as she had until December 6, 2024, to begin construction work on the annexe for the planning permission originally granted in 2021 to remain valid.

The furore over the path diversion led to confusion among some villagers, who worried that the existing path was going to be blocked, preventing people from walking past the old water mill.

Keith Ward, who has lived in Snettisham for 20 years, said: “People were concerned that they wanted to stop people using the main path. In the old days it used to go across the houses but now it is not in use. But the changes do not affect people’s enjoyment of walking in the area.”

Keith Ward, who has lived in the village for 20 years. Picture: Owen Sennitt
Keith Ward, who has lived in the village for 20 years. Picture: Owen Sennitt

Following the Planning Inspector’s decision, people living in the quiet cul-de-sac were reluctant to speak about the four-year dispute.

One neighbour, who lives close to Ms Singh’s home but did not want to be named, feared discussing the matter would “bring up bad blood” but frustration remained at the handling of the incident.

He said: “In the neighbourhood plan there is not meant to be any development south of the River Ingol. The council ignored that.”



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More