News / Harbourside
Public footpath becomes private property
New signs appear to prevent access to a footpath close to the Floating Harbour which has been a popular route since opening almost a decade over.
The stretch of Millennium Promenade connecting Canons Way to the Harbour Inlet may seem like a public area but signs now say that the footpath in front of the Invicta building is private property.
This is despite a Bristol City Council document praising Invicta as “arguably the most successful phase of the Canons Marsh development” and highlighting its public realm.
is needed now More than ever
There has always been a choice of three different footpaths from Canons Way to the Harbour Inlet – photo: Martin Booth
The document says that “this section of the Millennium Promenade comprises of a gently sloping pedestrian and cycling route which incorporates a sustainable urban drainage system” as well as there being “a separate public footway (which) also runs along the ground floor residential units, connecting back round to Anchor Road”.
It is this latter route which has now been designated as “residents (sic) access only” – with the other two footpaths between Canons Way to the Harbour Inlet unaffected by the new regulations.
This route takes pedestrians and cyclists next to the front doors of the flats on the ground floor of Invicta, with residents complaining that their properties are often used as toilets late at night.
It is the footpath closest to Invicta (above left) which has been designated as private property, despite appearing as public on Google Maps – photo: Martin Booth
Cabinet member for planning, Nicola Beech, said: “This is really, really disappointing and why I am always banging on about public access for the public!”
Beech was replying to a tweet from architect Rob Gregory, who asked: “Really? What’s happening to our harbourside? The text on the left may be factually correct, but the statement on the right isn’t very civic is it.”
As well as the larger black and white ‘private property, residents access only’ signs, a smaller sign has also been placed in various locations around Invicta.
That smaller sign says: “This path is not a public right of way, and the Landowner does not intend to dedicate it as such. Users are permitted to use it with the express permission of the Landowner who reserves the right to close the path either temporarily or permanently at any time.”
Millennium Promenade forms the last stretch of the Brunel Mile – photo: Martin Booth
Bristol24/7 contacted Invicta developers Crest Nicholson for comment, but a spokesperson said that the building’s management company, Pinnacle, “are responsible for Invicta, including any signage & would be best placed to comment”.
Pinnacle have been asked for comment.
Smaller signs appear to pave the way for public access to be stopped, despite appearing at the same time as the larger ‘residents access only’ signs – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
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