Now Nanny State stops us walking on Abbey cobbles

A COBBLED path at a 1,300-year-old abbey could be closed off because health and safety chiefs say people could trip over on it.

Officials want to bann people from walking on the cobbled path in front of Sherborne Abbey Officials want to bann people from walking on the cobbled path in front of Sherborne Abbey

Instead they want to spend £30,000 of taxpayers’ money on a modern tarmac path to run alongside it.

Town councillors in Sherborne, Dorset, have asked for permission to carry out the work at the town’s abbey – which dates back to 705AD – because they fear a costly law suit.

They say the original path would remain but the new track leading to Sherborne Abbey would make it easier for elderly people and wheelchair users to get to the entrance.

The plan is being backed by the abbey’s Fabric Committee, although chairman Mike Keatinge agreed that there may be objections from conservationists.

He said: “We want to do this for the fact we have had a steady trickle of accidents, people tripping on the cobbles.

“We know of one lady who had a particularly bad fall.

“There are some concerns on historical grounds. There is also an objection that this would destroy a medieval street.

“We have conducted archaeological surveys and I’m convinced it is not medieval.

“During a recent examination of the site we found disturbed Victorian earthworks with clay piping.” Sherborne Mayor Jane Smith agreed that action was needed to make sure people could visit the abbey safely and reduce “public liability” risk.

She said: “The condition of the existing lane concerns me.

“It is uncomfortable to use even if you’re an able-bodied person. These things don’t get better, only worse.

“There is a public liability factor to take into account here, if someone has an accident.”

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