Jet ski fanatic sinks footpath under lake

Doug Ryall, a landowner and jet ski enthusiast, will let nothing stand in the way of business. Least of all a century-old footpath.

So when he decided to extend the lake in his jet ski leisure complex in the picturesque Mendip Hills, he submerged the awkward path beneath several feet of water.

Mr Ryall is undeterred by his court conviction for breaking the planning laws so, for the past six years, hikers on the three-mile path have been well advised to pack a swimsuit with their sandwiches.

Now, exasperated by his blunt refusal to obey the law, walking groups are demanding new laws to protect the country's footpaths from people like Mr Ryall.

The path in the heart of Somerset runs from the small town of Evercreech, near Shepton Mallet, to the hamlet of Pylle, and runs near the Royal Bath and West Showground. It is also close to Pilton, home of the Glastonbury rock festival.

The saga began in 1993 when Mr Ryall, the owner of Jetski South-West, successfully applied for permission to extend the lake - a move which meant that 175 yards of the footpath would be submerged.

He was granted permission on the condition that he first provided a detour around the sunken area for walkers.

Six years on, the lake at Wayside farm has been extended but the footpath still comes to a watery end a mile outside Evercreech. Despite several attempts to come to a peaceful agreement with Mr Ryall, Mendip District Council says it has never received any response to its letters.

Last year the council took Mr Ryall to court for obstructing a public footpath. The magistrates at Frome agreed with the council's argument, convicted Mr Ryall and fined him £200 with £50 costs.

But the law was not able to force Mr Ryall either to build a new route or to reduce the lake to its original size. A spokeswoman for the council said: "There is nothing left for us to do. We just need stronger legislation to help us deal with this sort of person."

Local walkers' groups feel similarly powerless. "We feel as though we have come to the end of the line," said Pam Roberts, footpaths secretary for the Ramblers' Association in Somerset. "In theory the council can fill in the extended part of the lake and then invoice Mr Ryall for the cost but it is no financial position to do that.

"It cost the council a great deal of money to take [him] to court and even though they won we're still in the same position. We're just wringing our hands in despair."

The path has existed for more than 100 years but people walking between Evercreech and Pylle must now use a busy main road, which few are willing to do.

Mrs Roberts said: "This path is a useful part of a network linking up churches in nearby villages. The vistas go a long way. It's all church spires and farmsteads and there's a windswept feel to the area. It's very remote and there's a sense of isolation.

"It's just a pity we can't enjoy it to the full. People think this is a disgrace. It would be so simple to build a path."

The Ramblers' Association, which has also criticised Mr Ryall's behaviour, believes the case highlights the need for the laws on footpaths to be strengthened.

The Government's Countryside and Rights of Way Bill was published two months ago and is currently going through committee stage.

Janet Davis, footpath policy officer for the Ramblers' Association, said that the stand-off over the jet ski lake showed that the present law was "toothless" and called for it to be strengthened by the Countryside Bill. "Mr Ryall has been convicted for obstructing a right of way yet this path remains unsuitable unless walkers have a boat or a wetsuit. Magistrates need powers to order the removal of path obstructions once a conviction has been secured," she said.

Mr Ryall said he was waiting for Mendip council to make the next move. "Originally we were happy to go along with the diversion," he said. "But it's dragged on and the cost has more than doubled.

"It's not possible until the council give us an explanation of why it's taken them so long to organise it."