Path row

The ruling means a path linking Ben Bank Road and Hall Royd Walk in Silkstone Common must be a minimum of 20ft wide.

In some places the path is far narrower than 20ft, after properties bordering it were developed or their garden fences moved over the years.

Now DEFRA - the Department for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs - has told Barnsley Council to make a 'map modification order' to record the new 20ft width.

Residents have six weeks to object but, if the order is confirmed, a garage attached to a house on Hall Royd Walk and some boundary fences will need to be 'adjusted' to ensure the full width of path is available.

The Government decision came after nearby resident Steven Hudson, of Viewlands, Silkstone Common, applied for the path to be widened and opened up to traffic to give vehicles access to the rear of his property where he had hoped to build a bungalow.

DEFRA turned down a bid to turn the footpath into a road - but supported proposals to widen it.

The owner of the garage, who asked not to be named, said the ruling had come as a shock. The structure, which is attached to the house, was built by the previous owners and she said she was unaware of any problems when she moved in.

She said: "It's crazy, I'm going to object. We were aware the application to make the path into a road had failed, but this widening order has come as a shock. I don't know what we are going to do."

Geoff Armitage, of Hall Royd Walk, said of Mr Hudson: "He wanted the garage owners to take the garage down so he could build a road through there. Well he can't build the road, but the building must come down - so there's going to be massive disruption for no purpose."

Mr Hudson admitted his plan to create a road was at an end, but he insisted he was happy with the outcome. He added: "I am finished with the road. But I am only interested in preserving public rights of way and my private rights."

A public inquiry may be held if objections to the widening order cannot be resolved.

A Barnsley Council report states: "If the order is confirmed appropriate enforcement action will be taken to secure the removal of the encroachments on the route."