WITH regard to the footpath campaign by Mr and Mrs Gareth Thomas in Cherry Tree, Blackburn, I would like to make some points.

When the estate was built some 40 years ago, the residents were informed by the builders Leonard Frankland, that there would be a public footpath to and from the estate at the top end of Kirkstone Avenue.

My understanding was that the footpath would be between the last bungalow and the first semi-detached house.

This did not take place and instead the footpath was placed through the land higher up than the sub station.

The land was consequently sold to a private buyer who built the house concerned. The path was left in situ.

I wonder if in fact Leonard Frankland had informed the purchaser that the path must remain If I had built the house and there was no agreement in place to this effect I would have immediately closed the footpath.

Mr Thomas then purchased the house and the footpath, yet again, remained as a way to and from the estate.

If this path is allowed to be closed then all of the public footpaths in the country, could, in theory, be closed.

Perhaps now is the time for the Right to Roam people to become involved.

Why has Mr Thomas now decided to try to have the footpath closed when I know from conversations with him that these problems have been a long-standing concern for some 20 years?

I had the good manners when the closure of the footpath was brought to my attention, to pay him a visit and inform him that I would be objecting to his plans, the reason being that my wife and I use this footpath.

Mrs Thomas told me that if they weren't successful in closing the path they would dig it up and people would be walking knee deep in mud.

JIM HAWORTH, Keswick Drive, Cherry Tree.