OVER the years, a great number of footpaths which led from the common (now Victoria Park) have been closed in Cadoxton, the latest is the one leading from Victoria Park Road past the rear of Cadoxton Infants School to the steps leading to Main Street.

I know that there are flights of steps which go the same way, but I have always used the footpath that is now closed.

At one time, there was a footpath leading to it across the ground behind the school, which was blocked by locked gates which were placed across the footpath on the building of the sports hall.

There was also another public right of way leading to Main Street from Victoria Park which was closed by alley gates on the pretext that it was “an unmade lane,” although I informed the council that a diversion order was made to this footpath on the building of St Aidan’s Rise (which is spelt wrong – it’s St Aidan not St Aiden).

One of the most-used footpaths for Cadoxton residents was the one leading from Main Street to Llanover Street, which was closed by alley gates. This this path had been used for more than 100 years by members of the Philadelphia Chapel when they went to Calfaria Chapel in Court Road after the services for Sunday School were held in Bridge Street.

It was also used for many services by members that attended the Spiritualist Church in Kenilworth Road.

Are the council determined to close all the footpaths in Cadoxton to save money by not having to maintain them?

Tom Clemett

Church Road

Cadoxton

Barry