@Dennis Murphy That's one way of putting it but what about the human ramblers using the path? Don't some airfields have hawks to frighten the birds off?

That's great news, so many objections must surely prove a point

@Tony Wells I haven't walked the path for seven years as I am now disabled so the gate you mention could have been erected since, I only remember the stile with bars across. White Cliffs Ramblers have teams of volunteers, that go out to erect gates, and clear paths, however these gates would certainly last for many years. For my part, I cleared paths for 25 years with East Kent Rambling club, built 5 foot bridges with both White Cliffs and EKRC. I have contacted Kent Public Rights of Way team on this and other matters. It appears to me from the photos, that the legal Right of Way has been disturbed which is illegal

@Tony Wells I don't remember any kissing gate over 50 years walking the path. The stile on entering the farm area was the cross bar having no step, as shown in one of the photos, with wood leaning against it. Would the air strip be across the path? In which case walkers would be inconvenienced, probably closing the path while planes were flying, so prevented walkers from proceeding. The permissive path at the Northbourne end of EE420 would save people walking along the road but is not be a legal route and can be withdrawn at any time. The original path would have been across the road and then direct to the village, it would be better to claim it back as "Lost Ways" before the cut off time of2026. I am still not in favour of this air strip here. not just for the statements above.

I noticed that there were some bits of wood leaning on what I remember was the stile exiting the field from Public Right of Way. EE420. Does that mean that the PROW is threatened with a diversion ,or worse still closure. Many rambling clubs have used this path over nearly 60 years, Once again why can't people plan around the footpaths and not expect them to be diverted. What about the ducks in the pond that always greeted us on walks. Doesn't their disturbance matter as well as residents .

I was Local Footpath Officer for 17 parishes on behalf of the Ramblers Association for 25 years, and continued to campaign for the reinstatement of the footpath EE420, that crosses this field from Northbourne, to Little Mongeham, even walking it myself for several years until a path was made visible, or the farmer cleared it. This path is an essential route to connecting to paths, EE422, EE423, and EE423A towards Ripple, and Sutton. No doubt the application will want the footpath to be moved or even closed. Such development will intrude on the enjoyment of local residents and people out to enjoy the countryside. As Sir Roger Gale said recently in Parliament, "The Garden of England is becoming one massive building site" jgsrambler,Deal