THE bumpy road towards finding an amicable resolution to a long-running footpath dispute in Ilminster hit another stumbling block last week.

Residents of Winterhay Lane (North) have expressed their disappointment after proposed talks with two members of Ilminster Town Council fell through “at the last minute”.

Last month, The News reported that councillors voted in favour of asking the town clerk to vigorously contact interested parties in an attempt to bring a conclusion in the light of perceived friction over the access to the footpath known locally as Bumpy Lane.

Three landowners to the north of the lane restricted access to the public when they became fed up with dog fouling and walkers causing damage to maize fields.

But last year Somerset County Council resolved to issue an order which would see the path added to the town’s map.

Cllrs David Miller and Roger Swann were set to meet residents last Tuesday but the town council decided it would only be fair to make sure all parties were involved and cancelled the meeting.

Scott Waldie, spokesman for the Residents of Winterhay Lane (North) group, said: “It is very disappointing that, at the last minute, the town councillors have decided to withdraw from the meeting. It would appear that they only wish to hear one side of the case and have no intention of promoting a peaceful solution to the problem.

“It is incredible that, while the town councillors were willing to approve a motion to take vigorous action concerning the ‘continuing ambiguity as to the status of the footpath’ they suddenly find themselves – according to the town clerk – ‘by no means experts on the current legal status of Winterhay Lane’ and unwilling to meet residents to promote a more peaceful environment.

“It raises the question as to whether the councillors are only prepared to voice their opinions in the safety of the council chamber where the public only have three minutes at the start of the meeting.”

But the town council said it had no specific points it wished to raise with the residents at the time and that it would be “inappropriate” to continue with the meeting with no representation from the Winterhay Action Group, which is campaigning for the path to become public.

A council statement addressed Mr Waldie’s concerns and outlined the reasons behind the collapse of the meeting.

It read: “The town council is concerned about the current ambiguity relating to the status of the footpath adjoining Winterhay Lane and is frustrated at the length of time that it is taking for the relevant documents to be submitted to the Secretary of State so that the status of the footpath can be decided.

“A representative of the Residents of Winterhay Lane (North) invited Cllrs Miller and Swann to attend a meeting – the written invitation stated the meeting was about ‘reducing the potential friction or not’ and also said an ‘immediate answer’ was needed.

“The two councillors provisionally accepted the invitation but asked if they could have a list of items to be discussed at the meeting. On receipt of the list it was decided to decline the invitation as it would be inappropriate for such an agenda to be discussed with only two councillors and no representation from the Winterhay Lane Action Group present.”

The town council would like a resolution at the earliest possible moment to reduce a “source of friction in the town”.

The town clerk added that the decision will ultimately fall to the Secretary of State but if in trying to bring the matter to a conclusion another option is identified, the town council will consider how it may be most appropriately involved.