Land Lying to West of Reeds Lane – Change of Ownership

Southwater Parish Council confirms that under s9 of the Open Spaces Act 1906 it completed the acquisition of the parcel of land lying to the west of Reeds Lane (Title Number WSX99391) on 19 February 2026.

The land runs behind properties in York Close and is crossed by Public Right of Way (PROW 1678).

As resolved in the F&GP meeting on 15 October 2025, and ratified at the Full Council Meeting on 19 November 2025, the Council will not redirect the path, and public access will be retained in perpetuity. The Council further resolved not to transfer licence to Southwater Ghyll CIO or form part of the Leisure Management Agreement.

Public Right of Way

• PROW 1678 remains recorded on the Definitive Map.

• West Sussex County Council, as Highway Authority, remains responsible for maintaining the Public Right of Way.

• The change of ownership does not alter the legal status of the PROW.

• The Parish Council will carry out additional general land maintenance, where appropriate, alongside the County Council’s routine maintenance of the PROW, which happens approximately once per year as part of the countywide maintenance program.

Access Gates

The Parish Council is aware that some properties have existing access gates onto the land.

• Gates installed before 19 February 2026 will not be required to be removed.

• The existing gates will be treated as historic arrangements.

• Any new access gates proposed in future will require written permission from Southwater Parish Council before installation. Such permission may require an inspection by the Parish Council and County Council to ensure no obstruction is created. Residents should contact the Parish Office with details of the proposed gate.

Use of the Land

The land will continue to be used for:

• Informal pedestrian access.

• Public use of PROW 1678.

Where to report issues?

• Issues relating to the surface of PROW 1678 should be reported to West Sussex County Council.

• Other concerns, including trees, vegetation or boundary matters, should be reported to Southwater Parish Council.

Small signs (no larger than A4) will be installed at each end of the land confirming ownership and maintenance responsibilities.

For further information, please contact the Parish Office. The title plan below is also available in PDF format.