WALKERS are stepping up their campaign to prevent a series of footpaths near an historic Ribble Valley hall from being diverted.

Oxendale Hall at Osbaldeston is owned by Jersey property and investment company Belmore Holdings.

The company wants to divert four footpaths running through the grounds of the 17th Century property.

But local residents and ramblers are preparing to do battle over the proposed diversions and claim the routes have been in use for hundreds of years.

The closures were agreed by Ribble Valley Borough Council but are being reviewed after concern about the consultation process.

The company claims the diversion of footpaths marked 6,16, 19, 28 on the local map will be in its "best interests."

Spokesman Roy Walsh said: "Belmore Holdings requested the diversions and the Ribble Valley Council agreed. The paths go right through the property, which is rented out.

"We are concerned about the privacy and security of the tenants, therefore it is in the best interests of the company if the footpaths are diverted."

Local resident Tony Gafney said: "I walk these paths on a regular basis and so do many other people. One of the footpaths is fully accessible to the disabled and the proposed diversion will take it up a steep incline. We want to bring the proposed diversions to the attention of anyone who may wish to object.

"It's a great shame that the company has seen fit to try to deny people the continued opportunity to view their heritage."

Rita Kay, chairman of Blackburn Ramblers, said: "Blackburn Ramblers have been walking these paths since the 1930s and we are very cross indeed that they could think of diverting them.

"A lot of local people walk these paths, particularly the elderly, for whom the proposed diversion will be too steep. The paths have been in use since the hall was built in the 1600s and we are encouraging people to object."

Parish councils at Osbaldeston, Clayton-le-Dale, Mellor and Balderstone, which are near the property, are also against the proposed diversions.

Margaret Panikkar, former chairman of Clayton-le-Dale Parish Council, said: "The footpaths are ancient rights of way past two historic halls, one of them Oxendale Hall. We are particularly concerned about the safety of the steps down either side of a gully on one of the proposed diversions and will be strongly objecting."

Oxendale Hall was built by the Osbaldeston family, which can be traced to pre-Norman Conquest times.

Ribble Valley Council's director of legal services Paul Timson said: "A diversion order was granted at the request of the property's owners, but the Planning Inspectorate wasn't satisfied with the consultation process and asked us to request further objections.

"It is more than likely to go to a public inquiry, perhaps as early as September."

Objectors have until July 23 to make their views known, after which it is expected to be called in by the Planning Inspectorate for a public inquiry.

Anyone who wishes to object is advised to write to Ribble Valley Council Chief Executive Dave Morris, Council Offices, Church Walk, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 2RA, by July 23.