AN ALMONDSBURY woman self-isolating as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has had her request for a footpath to be reopened turned down.

Mary Matthews and her husband Mike are self-isolating following government advice for over 70s. Keen walkers, the closure of a footpath next to their Oaklands Drive home, means their only option is to walk alongside the adjacent A38.

The footpath, which leads into a field near Almondsbury Garden Centre, was closed shortly before the land was sold to Cedar Care Homes Ltd.

They are building a new care home on the site of one ravaged by fire in 2016.

Mrs Matthews said: “We have been here since 1978 and the footpath has been here all that time.

“It just gives access through to the field, it’s only about 100 yards. We have got nowhere to walk. I just cannot see why they cannot open it. The usual rules don’t apply at the moment.

“There’s not a lot of compassion. All I want to do is walk through the woods.”

Residents have submitted an application to have the walkway made a definitive footpath.

This would make it a public right of way and take the decision out of the landowner’s hands.

A spokesman for Cedar Care Homes said: “I appreciate that we appear to be depriving Mrs Matthews of a means to access an open area of public land and making her use a longer route.

“Please be aware that we are a nursing home group that cares for the elderly and vulnerable adults in our communities and we are sympathetic to their needs. This rejection of Mrs Matthews request is based on our wider responsibilities.

“The site was purchased by Cedar Care Homes Ltd several months ago. The previous landowner Martin Lally had closed the footway to the public prior to the sale completing. “The pathway to which Mrs Matthews refers is not, and has never been, a right of way and no such right has ever been registered.”

“Construction will be commencing as soon as is practically possible, within the constraints of the pandemic controls introduced by the government. In any event, it must be noted that the area is a construction site and access to general public is prohibited for safety purposes.

“In the meantime, the area, whilst under our control, is subject to our standard public liability insurance. Allowing temporary access will have an impact on this cover, along with having the potential for setting a detrimental precedent, which could negatively impact the quiet enjoyment of the land for our future residents.

“We have received letters from other residents who do not want the footpath used by the general public. There have been instances where drug taking and anti-social behaviour which has had a detrimental effect on their quiet enjoyment of their land.

“Whilst I sympathise with Mrs Mathews and her husband having to self-isolate during the current Coronavirus crisis there are wider considerations that we, as a socially responsible organisation need to take into account and on this balance, we feel that our rejection is the right response.”

Mrs Matthews argues there were only problems with anti-social behaviour during the time the old building fell into disrepair.

However, police were called to the site on Wednesday evening after a group of teenagers were seen trying to gain access.

Councillor Keith Burchell, who lives on Oaklands Drive and represents Almondsbury as part of the Severn Vale ward on South Gloucestershire Council, claims a precedent has been set over the last 40 years with walkers previously permitted to use the footpath.

He said: “I can understand their concerns but it would be nice to allow it whilst there’s no work going on.

“It’s private property and it’s down to the landowner whether to allow people to walk through.

“The application is in and if it’s granted there will be a public right of way.”