Since Rushley Green Farm was sold in May 2019 the new owners have been unhappy about the fact that a historic footpath runs through the middle of one of their fields.  They have therefore applied to move it to the edge of the field (adjacent to the woods which are part of the land owned by Hedingham Castle).  Local residents are strongly opposed to this proposal for many reasons, including:

• the footpath is part of the historic Magna Carta Way, a stone's throw from the 900 year old Norman keep of Hedingham Castle, and needs to be retained in its present location to preserve our heritage;
• the proposed location for the new footpath is much steeper than the current location which will make it very difficult for the elderly or disabled to use it (or anyone with a pushchair);
• the proposed location of the new footpath abuts overgrown woodland with overhanging branches and tangled undergrowth and does not currently allow for unimpeded access across the field.  By contrast, the current location is across open grassland and requires no maintenance meaning it is always accessible.  We have seen from other treelined footpaths in the village that these are regularly blocked for several days at a time when trees and branches come down.  Relocating the footpath will therefore mean that it is also likely to become blocked in future following bad weather;
• The relocation will therefore be in contravention of The Highways Act 1980, Section 119(6) which says "The path will not be substantially less convenient to the public in consequence of the diversion."  
• Also under The Highways Act, "consideration should be given to public enjoyment of the path or way as a whole".  The village is home to many rescue dogs from the local RSPCA in Wethersfield and further afield and the footpath is a favourite with both dog walkers and ramblers alike.  A footpath that is fenced in on both sides will mean that many dog owners with reactive, rescue dogs will no longer be able to use this route as there will be no 'safe' places to pass other walkers at a reasonable distance.  Relocating this part of the footpath will therefore cause many people to not walk the path at all.
• This section of the footpath forms part of a valuable and much used circular walk of the village.  Relocating it will have a severe, negative impact on the way as a whole.  This flies in the face of ECC's Green Essex Strategy 2019 document in which one of the stated objectives is to "Increase use and inclusivity of green infrastructure across all social groups and abilities".
• there seems to be no compelling reason to move it!