CAMPAIGNERS have won the latest major battle in their nine-year struggle to regain public access to a woodland footpath in Guiseley.

They are celebrating the result of a public inquiry held on September 16 into the path, which runs through woodland alongside Thorpe Lane, from the A65 opposite Harry Ramsden's fish and chip restaurant.

Planning inspector Mr A S Jeapes, who conducted the inquiry, has now

confirmed an order issued by the city council earlier this year making the path a public right of way.

Mr Jeapes said the evidence persuaded him the path had been used continually from 1939 until it was fenced off in 1989.

Paul Truswell MP, of Guiseley, (above) who gave evidence at the inquiry, said he looked forward to seeing the barbed wire and 'no trespasser' signs coming down - but warned that the owners still had a further right of appeal to the High Court. "I would hope that the findings of the public inquiry see an end to this struggle," said Mr Truswell. "But given the determination of the owners to prevent public access, we may not have yet seen the end of this struggle."

Until 1986 the former West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council owned the land through which the path runs. It was sold off by the then Government when the council was abolished, and the new owners surrounded it with fencing topped by barbed wire in 1989.

In January this year the city council - after lengthy lobbying by Mr Truswell and Councillor Mike Dunn - designated the path a public right of way.

The owners, Hawksworth Estates of Guiseley (Ogdens) appealed against the decision, which prompted the public inquiry, held at Guiseley Theatre.

"The excellent turnout at the public inquiry showed that, despite the passage of nine years, determination to restore public access to the path had not diminished," said Mr Truswell.

"When the county council was abolished in 1986 the land should have been kept in public ownership and transferred to the city council as a public asset.

"Instead the then Government decreed such assets should be sold to raise money for the Treasury."

The land over which the path runs formed part of the Thorpe Farm Estate which was bought by High Royds Hospital in the 1920s to

provide therapeutic work for patients.

At the time of going to press there was no one at Hawksworth Estates at Guiseley, available to comment.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.