Path North

“Path North” - the idea of a footpath link between Goostrey and Over Peover (a gap in the Cheshire footpath network) was first mooted by Goostrey Parish Council and the Goostrey Residents’ Association in 1995.  Finally in 2012 after a big effort by one of the Footpaths Group members, Bill Owen,  in cooperation with David Job of Cheshire Farms, across whose land the path would go and Genni Butler from Cheshire East Council Public Rights of Way Unit, a route was agreed and the legal process to dedicate it as a permanent Public Footpath was completed.

The Footpaths Group provided four oak fingerposts and six kissing gates and the Manchester Airport Community Fund made a substantial financial contribution to the actual construction of the path, which involved many bridges and kissing gates and was carried out by Cheshire East contractors.  The Footpaths Group also prepared and issued a supplement to their publication “More Goostrey Walks & Strolls”.  See the Publications section of this website for more information and to download copies of both publications.

A special ceremony took place on 11th May 2013 to mark the official opening of the two paths created.  The full report from the Parish Magazine is recorded below.

Since then this route has proved very popular with residents and visitors alike and, particularly during the recent lockdowns, has proved a real asset, greatly increasing the variety of walks available from Goostrey.

Report from Parish Magazine May 2013

Forty folk defied the rain to witness the Mayor of Congleton East, Councillor George Walton, present Goostrey Footpath Group member Bill Owen with a plaque commemorating the first new public footpath in Cheshire East since 2009.

At the Bogbean on May 11th in the shelter of a gazebo that had to be held down against the wind, Goostrey Guides provided light refreshments and then Bill Owen outlined to the Mayor the long history of the project, from the Parish Council and Residents Association original initiative in 1995 to the present day, and thanked the County Farms team and the County’s Public Rights of Way team for their wholehearted support of the project, without which nothing could have been achieved.   

Particular thanks were also recorded to the Manchester Airport Community Fund, for its substantial financial contribution to the actual construction of the path, with its many bridges and kissing gates.

In return the mayor congratulated the Goostrey Footpath Group on the tenacity with which the project had been pursued over the 17 years, and complimented Bill on the key role he had played personally in the extended negotiations.

The newsmen’s cameras clicked and flashed as the Mayor presented Bill with a Commemorative Plaque, and the new footpath was declared officially Open.

With the weather improved the party made its way down Mill Lane along the new footpath to Valley Farm Wood, where a token ribbon was cut for the benefit of the photographers.   

Despite squelchy conditions underfoot the Mayor walked with the ceremonial party through Valley Farm Wood and on into Galey Wood where he joined in the installation of the Plaque on one of the new bridges.

The first new public footpath in Cheshire East for four years was definitely open for use….!!