Four years have passed since the Halbert family of Melkridge Hall gated shut a 50-yard lonnen between the village and the A69 trunk road, to prevent public access.
Following a public inquiry last summer, Government-appointed inspector Sue Arnott ruled that the route should be re-opened, and added to the definitive footpaths map as a public bridleway.
But it emerged last month that the Halbert family had applied for a judicial review of the inspector’s decision.
At an extraordinary meeting of Melkridge Parish Council on Monday, members considered a letter from representatives of the Halbert family, which offered to conclude the matter, by rerouting the lonnen on to a nearby stretch of parish land.
The parish council agreed to formally reject the proposal, based on the inspector’s declaration that the existing route is a public right of way.
At a meeting of Northumberland County Council’s rights of way committee in January, chairman Dougie Watkin said gates at either end of the lonnen would remain shut until the outcome of the judicial review was known.
The route was badly damaged during severe flooding in December 2015. Whilst this has made the route impassable, Highways England is expected to repair the flood damage.
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