FOOTPATH watchdogs are threatening to take obstructors to court.

Regional footpath expert Derek Taylor says the Peak and Northern Footpath Society is prepared to take High Court action to have a Tyldesley pathway re-opened.

Mr Taylor, an ex-councillor and general secretary of the Society, found trouble afoot around the corner from his Parkfield Drive home when he returned from holiday.

He said: "The people who are blocking it are foolish. They will have to unblock it.

"They have removed two bollards which are the property of the local authority, which is an offence.

"They have erected fencing on land which does not belong to them and they say there is no right of way.

"It has been a path for 35 years at least and my society will be looking at whether we need to take out an injunction. I don't think these people realise if we take them to the High Court we will be claiming costs and it could cost them dearly.

"What they have done is wrong.

"For the Council to say it isn't a path because it isn't on the definitive map is a typical cop-out.

"I have correspondence from Tyldesley Urban District Council saying it was prepared to surface it. The authority also erected bollards as a safety measure.

"It isn't on the definitive map because when that was drawn-up the pathway was classed as a minor highway adopted by the Council.

"People are furious about what has happened and I am being inundated with user claim forms which will be submitted to Wigan."

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