THE wrangle over a "disappearing" South Craven footpath blocked by a huge wall could reach the courts.

Ramblers have been stumped by the ancient route which apparently disappears half-way across Steeton Moor.

The path leads off Intake Lane in Steeton, goes across the moor and should drop down over the North Yorkshire border into the Ellers area of Sutton.

But the route is blocked by a five foot dry stone wall which is virtually impossible to get over.

The Herald first highlighted the problem of footpath Steeton 13 back in 1996, when local experts were divided over whether the path ends at the wall or continues to Sutton.

Rights of way officers at Bradford and North Yorkshire have so far done nothing about the problem.

But now Bradford Council is to appoint an extra member of staff in its footpaths section to look at three major rights of way issues, including Steeton 13.

The new officer's remit includes carrying out legal investigations and taking enforcement action over the long-standing problem, which Bradford Council says "provides a vital link with North Yorkshire".

The council's highways chairman Phil Thornton told the Herald: "Many of our footpaths have been public rights of way for hundreds of years, so it's vital that we keep them open, not just for ourselves, but for generations to come."

The latest news on the Steeton 13 saga has delighted walker Leslie Howard, who campaigned for something to be done about the blocked path.

Mr Howard, of Coppy Road, Steeton, said he was determined to walk the full route of the path.

"It's about time something was done about this path," he said.

"Rights of way people say they'll sort out the problem, but they just didn't seem to want to know.

"But if we hadn't pushed the issue and the Craven Herald hadn't got involved, then nothing would've been done about it."

The footpath is featured on Ordnance Survey maps, but the maps do not show the stone wall.

The problem dates back to 1949 when officials drew up the definitive map of paths across Keighley.

They marked the route on their plans, but failed to find a stile or a way through the wall for walkers. The path still remains an official right of way.

l The new rights of way officer post has been funded by a three-year grant from the Countryside Commission.

Other issues to be tackled include registering and protecting one of three bridleways which local riders have been fighting to gain access to, and launching a £9,000 scheme to signpost rights of way in urban fringes.

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