Well, not exactly. The photo right shows some members of the South Petherton Walking Group last year staging their own protest at the futility of this legal saga. Bear in mind these are walkers supporting the landowner, not against any "alleged obstruction." Doesn't that make you think?

Older walkers will remember the Kinder Scout protest in 1932 over accessibility to the countryside. This was against grouse moor landowners, who wanted to keep open spaces for themselves, and gave rise to the National Parks. Fortunately we've come a long way since then.

So here are just a few statements from regular walkers and others who know these gates and paths. Let's start with one from Andrew Godfrey a local resident:

“I can remember walking along Barcroft Lane before the gates were there and it was in a poor state, it was muddy full of brambles, dark and dingy and there were dumped cars. Now that the gates and pillars are in place the width of the lane appears to be wider than it was before, and the area is bright and tidy. We also walk extensively in the area and it's common to come across gates and electric fences across farmland as that is a part of a working farm environment. I do not find the gate pillars intimidating but find the entrance bright and light and in keeping with the house.”

Andrew Godfrey, S Petherton (sworn witness statement,extracts)

"I have never met Brian Herrick but as a walker I have had the pleasure of walking to East Lambrook many times.
  It is a very pretty path made much prettier over the past few years by Mr Herrick, who in our opinion has done a great deal to improve the paths around his property and has looked after the interests of all who wish to use them."

James Mitchell, Yeovil: letter in Western Gazette, March 2009.

“These paths are kept in excellent condition, have been properly prepared, are constantly maintained and give great pleasure to all users. Neither I nor any of their visitors and those operating the stands (Disabled Awareness Day) had any problems passing through the entrance to Barcroft Hall and the pillars do not intimidate or restrict me, nor did they appear to restrict any other of the visitors.”

Rosemary Lee, organiser National Gardens Scheme (sworn witness statement, extracts)

"We walk the footpaths around Barcroft Hall on a regular basis with the dogs and find them excellent, well kept and easy to walk on. But there are some nearby footpaths not in Mr. & Mrs. Herricks ownership which are impassable. After the gate handles were added in 2006 the mechanism was broken on a few occasions. The security cameras were installed because of this."

Trevor Satterley (sworn witness statement, extracts)

"“The gates and walls at the entrance to the house do not compromise or breach the width of the track in any way. They allow the same passage width as the lane and there has never been a wider width available. I should like to explain that I placed a temporary rambler gate supplied by South Somerset District Council on Mr.Herrick's land to stop the sheep escaping and Somerset County Council told Mr.Herrick to remove it or they would take serious action. Mr.Herrick told me to remove the temporary gate. I now cannot keep sheep in that field near to the entrance gates.
  There is no doubt that owing to the layout of the land on Mr.Herrick's farm and the main gates being the only agricultural access from the county road to all the land it is essential and very normal to have gates in the current position to stop livestock escaping onto the highway if there is a problem. This can be caused by the gates onto the footpath network being left open or at the time of herding in the main entrance area.
Recently there was an incident in South Petherton where livestock escaped onto the road and caused a fatal car accident.”

Graham Brunt, sheep farmer (extract from sworn witness statement)

"There was a wooden gate at the entrance to Barcroft Hall when we arrived and this was replaced by the pillars and the gate which now exist. I do not find the pillars or gates in any way intimidating or obstructive. In April 2007 after Mr. & Mrs. Herrick had been requested to put handles on their gates they asked me to check that the gates were able to be opened with the handles for a period of one month. I understand that the reason for this was because the handles were being vandalised and they wanted an independent walker to check the gates on a daily basis."

Judy Burchett, S Petherton (sworn witness statement, extract)

“The footpaths are now better maintained than any other footpaths in the area and we have seen people in wheelchairs using the footpaths. It is an improvement to have taken out the stiles. When I first knew the property there was a wooden five bar gate at the front entrance. The gate pillars are now no narrower than the original gateway at that time. Mr and Mrs Herrick always left instructions that the handles which were made for the gates always worked and the gates were never locked.”

Carol Hartnell (extract from sworn witness statement).