The footpath linking Grange Lane to the ring road (and beyond) is still accessible. However it lacks any signage and so many residents may be unaware of its existence. (The sign used to indicate the new access to the Grange Lane park could usefully be moved to the start of this path!)
Unfortunately, Council officials have failed, when reopening the path which had been blocked for several years, to ensure that each end was secured by using either kissing gates or stiles. There is a dangerous gradient at the ring road end which led to a young cyclist being killed at that junction a few years ago.

Civic vandals at work again
Council officials have been blamed for trying to barricade the old entrance to the Grange Lane park. The attack came only a few days after a new entrance, a few metres away, was described by local residents as an expensive and unnecessary “folly”.
Now officials are trying to force pedestrians into using the new path even though there is no bitmaced surface and the “poop scoop” bin is still located next to the old access.
With wetter weather on the way, the new access is likely to become muddy and unusable before the winter is out.
The trail of Council damage now extends to the bottom of the park where a new hole has also been punched into the boundary hedge there.
Neither access is protected from abuse by motorcyclists whose presence was a major source of complaint before access gates were fitted a few years ago.

The developers of the new bungalows on Cornlands Road have made £7452 available which could be used to secure the adjacent Cornlands Road park at night. The plan to improve security was a Liberal Democrat initiative and dates back to 2009 when anti social behaviour levels peaked.
Public consultation, undertaken by the Council in February, revealed 90% of local residents favoured the scheme which would also have involved providing railings round the outside of the park.
Later there may have been improvements to the park itself including new play equipment.
Originally it had been proposed to divert the public right of way which crosses the park but council officials favoured using a “gating order” instead saying that it would have the same effect.
Now the Council is backtracking on its promise, with the new Labour Councillors for the area dithering on dealing with anti social behaviour issues.