ILMINSTER Town Council is working hard to bring a resolution to the ongoing tussle over access to the popular Bumpy Lane footpath.

Councillors voted to ask the town clerk to “vigorously” contact interested parties in an attempt to bring the long-running saga to a conclusion.

The path, adjoining Winterhay Lane and Home Farm Way in Green Lane, had been used unchallenged for 50 years before private road signs were placed at two entrances in 2012.

Last year Somerset County Council issued an order under Section 53(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to add the path to the town’s map.

Three landowners to the north of the lane previously decided to restrict access to the lane, citing dogs being let off leads and scaring farm animals, dog fouling on farmland, and walkers causing damage to a maize field by leaving the path as some of the reasons behind it.

Since the the county council put the order in place farmers and residents north of the lane vowed to fight the decision to make the path public and local police and town clerk Joy Norris warned walkers not to use the path until it was made a definitive path on the map.

At last week’s town council meeting Cllr David Miller put forward a motion, seconded by Cllr Roger Swan, that “in light of the friction which exists in the town over the continuing ambiguity as to the status of the footpath that adjoins Winterhay Lane, that the town clerk be authorised to contact vigorously all organisations who can assist in implementing an early resolution of the issue.”

During the public forum John Waldie said: “I am here to represent the residents of North Winterhay Lane and wish to speak about the rather confusing motion.

“Firstly, let me say, that although it is being reported that there is friction in the town itself, we have observed no friction in Winterhay Lane. This last year, our environment has been just as peaceful as it was four/five/six/seven years ago. We are nevertheless aware that all concerned are awaiting the outcome of a public inquiry. Any attempt to vigorously stir things up at this stage would be most unfortunate and would reflect extremely badly on the perpetrators.

“Secondly, there is no current ambiguity. No designated footpath exists along the northern part of Winterhay Lane, although all interested parties are equally aware of the county council’s intention to create one in the future. The recognised procedures will run their due course.

“If the town council starts to try and manipulate the process by vigorously canvassing organisations to become involved, it is inevitable that the ‘objectors’ will also canvas organisations – as well as the people of Ilminster – to draw attention to the town council’s inappropriate actions.

“My third and final point is, that notwithstanding what I have said so far, we, who are now cast in the role of ‘objectors’ – although we more kindly refer to ourselves as residents of Winterhay Lane North – are prepared to talk with Cllr Miller and Cllr Swann about the friction that they are experiencing in the hope of promoting more neighbourly feelings, rather than a sense of vigorous confrontation. At the end of the day, we would all like to live in peace with one another.”

Jo Wade, of the Winterhay Action Group, said: “This has been ongoing since 2012 and we would like to continue walking Bumpy Lane, though we have felt unable to do this over the two-and-a-half years. We would like to ask the town council to move this forward.”

Cllr Swann said it was the “not knowing” that was leading people to be in two minds as to whether to use the path, while Cllr Miller added: “The earlier this can get sorted, the earlier Ilminster can proceed onwards.”

The motion was passed by nine votes to two with one abstention.