A PUBLIC footpath linking one part of a Rossendale town with a major public park has been closed for around five years, according to a borough councillor.

Now Cllr Jimmy Eaton is asking Lancashire County Council why the route, from Rockcliffe Lane to New Line and Stubbylee Park, has remained shut to families and walkers.

Originally residents were told that the closure was necessary to allow for housebuilding in the area - but the last construction work ended some time ago and barriers have remained at the top of Rockcliffe Lane.

Cllr Eaton said: "The barrier has been up for five years and there is no work going on there now and my concerns are for the people trying to get to the park from this end of Bacup.

"It's the main route to Stubbylee and without it people are having to go the long way around and it's not acceptable. There has also been some fly-tipping behind the fencing which has been hidden away because of the closure."

"This is a public footpath and while we accepted the temporary diversion there's no reason why it shouldn't be reopened. When I was a county councillor I campaigned to get a new footbridge over the River Irwell and it's hardly being used."

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The current diversion takes people from the estate, wanting to reach the park, along Rockcliffe Road, Market Street and Park Road in one direction or Rochdale Road, Slack Lane and New Line as the other alternative.

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said: "This footpath has been closed so that essential work can take place to improve it, eradicate knotweed and prepare for further developments in the future.

"We have to put people's safety first and there was no option but to close it while this work took place. However the developer has agreed to reopen the footpath as soon as possible so it can now be used again.

"The housing developments along the path have not yet been completed and we will carry out improvements in the future linked to these schemes. We're sorry for any inconvenience this work has caused."