Haddenham to Thame Community Path

In late 2009 a consultation was carried out to determine the level of local desire for a community path between Haddenham and Thame.  This consultation indicated that there was overwhelming support for a route between the two settlements. 

A recommendation rising from this report was that, whilst a route was wanted, more investigation was needed into the preferred route. As a result, further consultation is being undertaken to determine this.  Two options have been investigated in further detail and we are now asking you for your preference.

Consultation

It is important to note that this consultation is to determine which route you would prefer to have upgraded in legal status to a bridleway, therefore enabling legal walking, cycling and horse riding along its length. 

We do not have funding to change the surface of the path, and on completion of the consultation, intend only to progress with negotiations to convert the status of the chosen route and upgrade structures as necessary to achieve best practice route guidelines for bridleways.

Route options

The following table describes the basic elements of each route.  Please click on each route for a brief description of the route, the plan showing which way it is proposed to go and photographs taken showing what was seen when the route was surveyed in February 2010.

Both routes are liable to flooding, particularly Route A which has been suggested is subject to flooding around four months of the year.

Option A: Via Scotsgrove Mill

This route starts in Haddenham at Station Road, in close proximity to Haddenham and Thame Parkway station.  It uses the existing bridleway along to Scotsgrove Mill.  At this point the route changes to a public footpath status and the surface is soft after the bridge through the damp wooded section between the mill and river.  On reaching the first of the River Thame tributaries the route crosses an existing concrete decked bridge to the water meadow.  This section of route runs across meadow/pasture for about 400 metres, subject to flooding through the year.  After crossing a second concrete bridge and tributary the route then links with the existing bridleway track that connects to Moorend Lane.  This section is also used by agricultural vehicles. West of the entrance to Moorend Farm, the track becomes wider and eventually connects to the Thame Bypass where the route ends

Option B: Via Tythrop

This route starts from Flint Street.  A connection to the rail station would be via quiet estate roads suitable for cyclists, walkers and horse riders. From Flint Street the route would utilise an existing public footpath to the railway beyond Manor Farm Stables. After the railway underbridge, the existing footpath link goes across open grazing meadows to the River Thame, and across an existing bridge, and then along to the north of Tythrop House & Tythrop Park Farm. This footpath route then crosses livestock pasture, after which there is a lengthy (1km) section along the edge and across arable fields, before finally reaching an existing metalled lane & bridle track at Keeper’s Cottage (crossing a fencing contractor’s storage area). At this point the route uses an existing bridleway which connects directly with Thame, meeting the bypass adjacent to Thame Rugby club.