RESIDENTS have been left wondering why a public footpath has still not been reopened following a long-running planning row.
Locals in Lindley were told that the shortcut that runs from Farnlee, off Plover Road, into the centre of Lindley would eventually be unblocked in the new year.
But nothing has happened yet, and Lindley councillor Christine Stanfield told the Examiner she has had lots of calls from concerned residents asking when the work will be done.
She said: “Negotiations are still taking place between the council and the landowner and none of the details have been sorted out yet – such as what the width of the path will be.
“People are contacting me more and more and more because they are frustrated and don’t understand that you have to go through all the legal details.
“It can’t be opened just like that – it has to go through a due process.
“I do sympathise with their frustration because it was used by many people.”
People living on Sandmoor Drive and Kirkwood Drive had used the route to get to the shops and schools in the village.
But the landowner closed the way in 2007, forcing residents to take a longer route into the centre.
Following a long-running dispute and a public inquiry, the footpath was added to Kirklees Council’s official list of public rights of way and the landowner told it must be reopened.
An appeal by the landowner was also turned down.But the path still remains unopened.
A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “The council is currently assessing what needs to be done by the landowner to re-open the path.
“Once this assessment has been completed the council will contact the landowner to arrange for it to be carried out.”
