History of the Group

2021

Thanks to a wonderful volunteer, Gavin Hollinshead, we have developed this new website to replace our old website which was out of date and proving difficult to update.  This new website went live in September 2021. “More Goostrey Walks and Strolls” can now be downloaded and printed for free from this website.

2020

FP12 – Swanwick Hall.  Following the Public Enquiry in February Her Majesty’s Inspector rejected the Application for a diversion so the boardwalk and the route through the old farmyard remain the official route.  As at 2021 the alternative Permissive Path is also available.

During the Coronavirus Pandemic our footpaths proved to be very popular with local residents and visitors alike. To help walkers we were able to make our out-of-print book “More Goostrey Walks and Strolls” available on the Love Goostrey website for anyone to download and print all or part of it for free. This proved to be a popular facility.

2019

Jodrell Bank suggested a route for the new footpath between Goostrey Station and JBO. Discussions continue on the most advantageous route. 

The bridge at the eastern end of the Bongs collapsed. The Council arranged repairs and the footpath was re-opened eight days later. Well done Cheshire East Council.  

Fingerposts at both ends of the Bongs were refurbished and re-installed.

Repairs to the Millennium Boardwalk were undertaken by members of the Group. 

2018

Discussions continued with all interested parties on the proposed new footpath between Goostrey Station and Jodrell Bank. Jodrell Bank has concerns about the routing and unauthorised access to their scientific area if a footpath is created.

2017

The Open Spaces Society, supported by the Footpaths Group, submitted an application to re-instate the bridleway known locally as Grassy Lane. This route has always been accessible for walkers and is clearly shown on historic maps. 

As at October 2021 this Claim is number 37 on the list so it may be many years before a decision is made. In the meantime the footpath can be walked.

2016

A full set of the Goostrey Walks publications was lodged with the Goostrey Parish Archive.

The Group gave substantial technical support to the Parish Council in their objection at a Public enquiry to the Application to build 119 houses alongside FP12. The Application was refused.

The fingerposts identifying Grassy Lane vanished, presumed stolen and they will be replaced with new fingerposts.

Discussions continued on the routing of the proposed new footpath between Goostrey Station and Jodrell Bank. 

The application to divert FP12 away from historic Swanwick Hall was approved by the Council.  This was disappointing for several members of the Footpath Group, as the views of the old Hall would be lost, the Millennium Boardwalk would become inaccessible, and some less agile walkers would find to new route difficult.

2015

Our website proved popular with 150 hits per month and a total of 5,000 hits since its launch in 2006.

Our stand at the annual Goostrey Rose Day continues to be popular with chat about footpaths, bridleways, the countryside and the historic maps on display.

Objections were submitted to a Planning Application for 119 houses alongside Footpath 12.

An application by the Landowner to divert FP12 clear of Swanwick Hall was noted.

The Group donated £500 towards the new Goostrey Scout Hut, and liaison with the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme continued.

Cheshire East Council agreed to a request for the restoration of part of The Bongs foothpath.

2014

“More Goostrey Walks & Strolls” is now almost exhausted with 1,800 sold and just 70 copies left. 

The new Path North proved very popular. 

After 12 months only 450 of the supplement to “More Goostrey Walks and Strolls” detailing the new paths remained from a print run of 2,000.    

The status of Grassy Lane continued under review with the Council and the landowner.  

Muddy patches in The Bongs were dealt with by members.

2013

Path North was equipped and officially opened on 11 May 2013 following 17 years of negotiation; two footpaths totalling 1½ miles making a safe walking link between the parishes of Goostrey and Peover.

Publications continued to be popular. From a print run of 2,000 just 175 copies of “More Goostrey Walks & Strolls” remained and from a run of 5,000 only 2,200 of the Jubilee Village Map remained in stock.

2012

To mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee the Goostrey Village Map, naming all the roads and showing where footpaths linked into the village, was brought up-to-date and a further 2,000 printed. 

Discussions with the Council for a new Public Footpath (Path North) to link Goostrey with Peover were successful with the agreement of a route. The Footpaths Group provided four oak fingerposts and some kissing gates for this development.  A supplement to “More Goostrey Walks & Strolls” was issued.

Initial discussions were held with Jodrell Bank (JBO) proposing a footpath link between Goostrey Station and JBO.

Representations were made to Ordnance Survey about the deletion of the Grassy Lane bridleway from their maps. 

2011

The removal of fallen trees blocking the Bongs footpath was prompted, plus the repair of the steps and bridge on the path from Goostrey to Twemlow.

It was noted in March that thanks to sterling work by CEC PRoW and the cooperation of several farmers, all paths around Goostrey were in good shape.

The counter installed on the Bongs path (in 1999!) showed that 3,000 trips a year are now made along this path.

2009

With all trace of Grassy Lane almost gone, one of Goostrey’s traditional signposts was installed at each end to mark its route – and to remind everyone to “use it or lose it”.

CCC were alerted to the narrowing of a path in the village by the shift of a fence-line.

At the prompting of the Group, improvements were made to the path skirting the Village Hall, and to the path through The Bongs.

2008

Two stiles on popular paths were replaced by kissing gates, two oak signposts were refurbished by the Footpath Group, and two damaged beyond repair were replaced.

Objection was lodged to the diversion of one of Goostrey’s most popular paths.

2006

The Footpath Group website went live, making information about Goostrey’s footpaths available world-wide and providing a simple channel for folk to contact us.

As part of “Step into Cheshire Week”, a walk around the local paths, finishing with cream teas at the Village Hall was organised.  It was very popular, and was voted 2nd best event of the week out of 50+ events across Cheshire.

2005

Goostrey Footpath Group put on a special display of historic local maps for the Centenary Celebration of Goostrey’s Rose Day. Sales of “More Goostrey Walks and Strolls” passed the 1,000 mark.

2004

The popular path through The Bongs was improved: A Counter on this path shows the week-to-week variation in use, with a peak at bluebell time.

2003

The County’s Concession Path through Gailey Wood came into regular use. Installation of kissing gates was completed. A Footpaths Photo Competition was inaugurated.

2002

Replacement of stiles around the village with kissing gates to make access safer recommenced, and sales of the new "More Goostrey Walks & Strolls" passed the 600 mark.

2001

Foot and Mouth disease prevented work on the paths and stopped book sales.

2000

"More Goostrey Walks & Strolls Millennium Edition" was published in full colour with new walks, new maps, and 66 colour photos. As all 950 copies of the 1st Edition had sold in 3 years, the print run this time was 2,000 copies.

1999

Funding for the Millennium Path was secured from Cheshire County Council, Shell, and Manchester Airport; and after extensive consultation with the landowners concerned and with disability groups, practical work commenced. 450 hours of volunteer work went into the project, which included the construction of 48 feet of board-walk across a notorious mud-bath. On 18th September, amid much publicity, the Millennium Path was opened.

1998

A "give away" guide to village road names and the start of all local footpaths was produced and 6,000 copies printed. The Group decided that as a Millennium Project it would revitalise a key local path, to make is suitable for use even by the less agile.

1997

An A3, full colour, map of footpaths in the area was produced for sale, based on nine aerial photographs supplied by Cheshire County Council. Maintenance and improvement of the local paths continued.

1996

Goostrey Parish Council joined the County Council Paths Partnership scheme, to secure funding for the Footpaths Group’s plans. Part of this funding was used to buy oak signposts, engraved with destination and distance, which were installed by Group members at the start of all the Parish footpaths. The first edition of "More Goostrey Walks & Strolls" was published, in black-and-white, with maps and photos detailing 7 walks additional to Dr Rogers’s book.

1995

Goostrey Footpaths Group, an informal team with a dozen members of varying skills - started to meet, and a comprehensive survey of local paths was made.

1994

At the initiative of the Residents Association, a "Footpath Group" was formed.

1993

Goostrey Parish Council organised Footpath Walks, and invited the County Council Footpath Ranger to give a talk in the village.

1992

Goostrey Parish Council and the Residents Association joined forces to make key local footpaths safer and easier to use.

1989

"Goostrey Walks & Strolls" 5th Edition [typed!] went on sale.

1979

Dr Brian Rogers produced "Goostrey Walks & Strolls" - hand-written and photocopied.