RESIDENTS are calling on City of York Council to bring an end to a dispute over a footpath which has been temporarily closed.

Askham Bryan College has a temporary closure order in place for a right-of-way across the campus.

The organisation has previously applied for planning permission to build new shelters and enclosures at the site to accommodate its miniature zoo’s expanding collection of species.

It has also applied to stop up or divert the right of way across the grounds to allow for the works, and the proposals have angered local residents who have been campaigning to keep the footpath open.

Askham Bryan Parish Council has now voted against plans to permanently close the right of way and residents are calling on City of York Council to act to reopen the path.

Villager Audrey Hollas said: “The parish council were not in favour of a permanent closure, they want it opening.

“The council said they are waiting to see what the college’s next move was. But what are City of York Council doing?

“It’s an approved public footpath. Why doesn’t the council tell them they need to open it up – they are denying people the right to use it. We want to be able to walk from the village down the footpath which has always been there.

“Why are the council being so spineless?”

The college has applied to divert the footpath and a council spokesman said the new route “appears to be more commodious to the public". The college was also granted a six month extension to the temporary closure of the right of way, which was effective from May 15.

A spokesman for City of York Council said: “The footpath is currently closed by a temporary traffic restriction order which expires on November 15, 2018. During the temporary closure the land owner has been exploring various options for the footpath. One of these options was put to the parish council by the council recently. The parish council did not support the proposal, therefore we have informed the land owner of the parish council’s decision and we are awaiting further comment from them on how to resolve the issue.”