A SEVEN-YEAR battle to restore a York right-of-way has finally ended in victory for local residents.

The footpath alongside Osbaldwick Link Road has been reinstated following a lengthy legal and planning wrangle involving developers Taylor Wimpey and City of York Council.

Local Independent councillor Mark Warters said local people were once again able to use the path and its reconstruction, along with the provision of a good new bridge over Osbaldwick Beck, was an important rights-of-way success.

However, he accused both the developers and the council of 'dragging their heels.'

Cllr Warters said the wrangle began after George Wimpey dug a drainage channel along the route of the path to prevent flooding at its nearby housing development, but without going through the necessary legal steps to close it.

A retrospective closure application was agreed by the council but a planning inspector then refused to confirm the order.

Wimpey unsuccessfully applied to the High Court for a judicial review of that decision and then decided to appeal to the Court of Appeal before later withdrawing the claim.

Tony Clarke, head of transport at the council, said it was 'unfortunate' it had taken longer than expected for legal issues to be resolved before the footpath could be reinstated.

"But the council has carried out its legal duty to ensure the path is available to the public once again and we’re pleased that all parties are happy with the final outcome.

"The works on the footpath also allowed the council to rebuild and improve the footbridge over Osbaldwick Beck, which we hope pedestrians will be able to enjoy for years to come.”

A spokesman for George Wimpey's successor Taylor Wimpey said it had been working extremely closely with the council to reinstate the public footpath along its definitive route, adding: "The construction and surfacing work has now been completed to the satisfaction of the council.”