This is what the developers of the Red Cow site are planning. This is an excerpt from an email to Peter:
I thought I would email you to outline what we propose to do to the footpath as we discussed so that we can agree the works and timings .
1. Clear vegetation from the path to identify the drainage gulleys.
2. Weed Kill the footpath.
3. Clear out the gulleys at the bottom and test the drainage.
4. Install a french drain to the stone wall linking into the gulleys.
5. Install a base for the footpath to facilitate easier access/egress using 40mm to nothing road base and rolled to a flat surface angled to the french drain.
6. Install a line of hoarding fixed to sleepers to allow a 1.5m wide footpath and enable scaffolding to the building site.
7. Upon completion of the building works finish the footpath with tarmac and install bollards ( to the approval of the planners ) at the lower end .
I trust this meets with your approval and I look forward to hearing from you soon. We anticipate starting this ( items 1,2,3 ) in the next few weeks. If the drainage idea works then we can procede with items 4, 5 and 6 thereafter