ACCESS to a popular walking route in Worcester remains blocked with conflicting information on whether King’s School or Duckworth Trust is responsible. A stile has been taken away with fencing blocking the route through a field from Slingpool Walk to Chapter Meadows heading towards Diglis. It is not a public right of way but fencing off the route, which cuts across land owned by the school and the trust, has caused a public outcry. Access is available around the back of the school field but it is an area that becomes overgrown and boggy during wet weather. Councillor Richard Udall, who represents Worcester St John’s on Worcestershire County Council, took up the issue after complaints from residents, stating his belief that the decision had been taken “unilaterally” by staff at King’s following initial correspondence with head and CEO Gareth Doodes.
A PRIVATE school in Worcester has been criticised for blocking off a popular route for city centre walkers – without its headteacher and CEO knowing about it. King’s School has taken away a stile and built up fencing to block the route through its field from Slingpool Walk to Chapter Meadows, heading towards Diglis. A second wire fence has been erected a matter of feet in front of that but some level of access appears to have been restored after the top two levels of wire were cut. Chapter Meadows is an area managed by Duckworth Worcestershire Trust, an organisation which has been in touch with Councillor Richard Udall, who represents Worcester St John’s on Worcestershire County Council. The alternatives to reach Chapter Meadows are to walk around the school field or follow a sodden, slippy route through an unmanaged grassy area that would leave walkers covered in mud.