AN eight-year battle for access across a school field has ended after an inspector ruled a fence blocking two public paths should be pulled down.

Inspector Alison Lea, from DEFRA, found in favour of campaigners who have been fighting to save two footpaths which cross Helmshore Primary School’s playing fields.

Lancashire County Council, which owns the land, erected fencing without planning permission aft-er the school had problems with dog mess and broken glass.

It applied for retrospective planning permission from its own committee, but this was withdrawn after the school reduced the fence to two metres.

Helmshore Community Action Group secured an order which recognised the right of way, but the county council did not remove the fence.

The authority then applied to its own regulatory committee, and was granted permission to divert the paths around the edge of the field.

Following yet more objections to the diversion, the county council was required to seek confirmation of the order from a government-appointed inspector.

After a two-day hearing, at which evidence was heard from both sides, the inspector found against the county council.

Keith Pilkington, of the Helmshore Community Action Group, said: “Public enjoyment of the paths would have been seriously prejudiced had the diversion gone ahead.

“It has been our aim since 2005, when the paths were blocked off by the school without any warning, to obtain recognition of historic rights of way, and to secure once again a communal open space where children can play.

“We hope that common sense will prevail and a compromise acceptable to all sides will be reached.”

Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, said: “We are relieved the inspector agreed with us that the existing route of one of the paths is direct and purposeful. We congratulate HCAG.”