RESIDENTS of Impney Way in Droitwich have successfully petitioned Worcestershire County Council to have a footpath and bridleway, popular with dog walkers and horse riders from all over the town, reopened, after it was illegally closed off to members of the public.

The path, the John Corbett Walkway, runs behind houses on Impney Way, all the way to the back of the Chateau Impney, and up until recently it was in regular use by Droitwich dog walkers and horse riders.

However around two months ago, residents were surprised to discover that barbed wire had been stretched across the pathway, and the kissing gate at one end had been welded closed stopping anyone from gaining access.

Furious with the closure of a public footpath, residents of Impney Way put together a petition and took it to the council to appeal for the path to be reopened, where they discovered that the measures had been conducted illegally by someone managing the land.

Worcestershire County Council have said the bridleway is a category one public walkway and a notice has been put in place at the site giving the owner 14 days from October 21 to have the barbed wire removed and the gate freed up before legal action is instigated.

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member for localism and communities said: "We are now working with the landowner to ensure the fence is removed during the time allowed. The route which is also part of the John Corbett Way and the linking paths provide enjoyable access, which we intend to ensure this is retained."

Resident Vanessa Chandler, who took part in the petition, is concerned that people won’t be aware that the path is being reopened.

She said: “We live on Impney Way and we’ve got a dog. There always used to be people walking past and since the path was closed off there hasn’t been a soul walk past, because there’s no access to it.

"We did a petition to the council because we were all so perturbed. They weren’t aware until quite a few of us called to say we had no access to it. They’ve put a warning up, but there still hasn’t been anyone past with their dogs.”

The path should be reopened to the public by Tuesday, November 4, with the barbed wire removed, and the gate workable.