Homes England and Bellway have recently submitted a planning application ( DM/25/0088) to upgrade the Freeks Lane footpath to an all weather pedestrian and cycle link which whilst welcome omits the first section of the footpath leading from Maple Drive to Eastbridge Avenue. 

The original Home England Facebook page mentioned the application would include all of Freeks Lane from Maple Drive and many residents were not aware of the significant omission of the southern section from Eastbridge Avenue to Maple Drive, particularly existing residents of Brookleigh who are left to walk to school or local shops along a muddy overgrown footpath.

There are also concerns that the plans need to take account of the need to prevent use of off road bikes for which there is a history of using Freeks Lane as well as using it to access rough tracks on Bedelands Farm.

The petition therefore calls for the full section of Freeks Lane from Maple Drive to be upgraded to an all weather footpath and cycleway.