A PUBLIC footpath in Meliden is due to reopen next month after an inquiry ruled that it be reinstated.

The footpath links the A547 Rhuddlan-Prestatyn road with the Prestatyn-Dyserth walkway.

Following an inquiry in January 2023, an inspector ruled in the favour of many Meliden residents that it be reinstated.

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Council officials 'missed opportunities' to protect public footpath in Meliden

But Marion Hunt, a 70-year-old lifelong Meliden resident, said she was concerned that Denbighshire County Council was “ignoring” and showing a “blatant disregard” for the ruling.

Ms Hunt, who was one of several Meliden residents to give evidence at the inquiry, said she feared the council would be re-routing the footpath.

She said: “Now, it seems Denbighshire County Council are ignoring the ruling and re-routing the path.

“This is a blatant disregard of what we fought so hard for and won. The whole point was to ensure the path follows the exact same route as it has for hundreds of years.

“They have not consulted with residents, nor do they understand the importance of the path in relation to Meliden's historical past.”

Ms Hunt emailed Denbighshire County Council herself last week to air these grievances.

In this email, shown to the Journal, she told the council she was “absolutely incandescent with rage”.

Extracts from the email read: “At no point during our fight to save the footpath did we agree to a compromise or that the path be re-routed, nor did the council consult with Meliden residents.

“I would like to know who thought taking the path in a different direction was a good idea, and then to proceed without informing the village residents, who I can categorically say would never have agreed.

“The footpath has run in a straight line from the main road for hundreds of years.

“The simple fact is that the garden which encroaches across it at present must be removed, along with any fencing or barriers that block the access.”

In response, Denbighshire County Council denied that the footpath will be rerouted, and said it aims to reopen it by early next month.

A council spokesperson said: “The council are working with developers to reinstate the original path subject to the original public hearing, and the work is nearly completed.

“There is no intention to divert the path onto an alternative route and it is intended the path will re-open early April.”

When metal gates were erected across the path in 2018, residents made complaints, which led to the inquiry considering the council’s order to register the path as an official right of way.

The main objection to the order came from Varis Homes, who bought the site in 2020 and have built seven executive homes costing about £500,000 each.