A HOTELIER is pleased that a public footpath through his land is to be diverted for privacy and security reasons.

John Robinson, owner of Headlam Hall Hotel and farm, near Gainford, asked that the path passing through his farmyard to the south and west of an agricultural building be diverted to allow for construction work on a new spa complex, scheduled for the autumn.

At a ten-minute meeting at Ingleton Village Hall on Tuesday, members of Durham county highways committee heard that the proposed new route, 115m long, would take the path to the north and east of the same building, allowing the area now crossed to be gated to provide privacy and security for hotel guests. The diversion would follow a recently-constructed tarmac road.

Ian Martin, footpath secretary of Barnard Castle Ramblers, could see no reasonable objection as it was only another 40m in length on a good surface. And the local councillor, Headlam parish meeting and Teesdale District Council raised no objections.

However, the Open Spaces Society was against the proposal. No representative was at the meeting, but local correspondent, Jo Bird, wrote that she could not agree that the diversion would offer better views.

She also pointed out that any change would involve walking past golfers sitting outside with drinks.

But councillors, who paid a site visit before the meeting, voted in favour of the diversion.

Mr Robinson said he was happy with the outcome.

Theft victims win support to

have path moved

AN ELDERLY couple who linked thefts totalling £10,000 with a public footpath through their farm took their case to the county highways committee on Tuesday. When the committee met at Mickleton Village Hall following a site visit, Thornton and Pat Mitcalfe asked that the path be diverted away from Kirk View Farm.

Mr Mitcalfe, 74, said: "Over the years, we have had every stick of furniture stolen from the house. We've had stone slates taken from the roof of a building, resulting in it becoming derelict.

"Stones have been lifted from a garden wall. A new hay bob and grass cutting tractor have been taken. Four slates taken from the porch seemed to have been pinched to order."

The committee heard that the couple had faced serious crime problems, with Mr Mitcalfe explaining that it would be better if the public was kept further away from the buildings.

The diversion would take a stretch of path along the side of two fields instead of crossing them.

Coun Richard Bell asked for it to be agreed. The application was also supported by the parish council.

The only objector was the Open Spaces Society, which was not represented at the meeting.

Members voted unanimously in favour of the diversion. Details will now be published and notified to the Secretary of State for confirmation.

Guided to safety - by his mobile

A WALKER who lost his bearings on an area of bleak Teesdale moorland was guided to safety with the aid of his mobile phone.

The 21-year-old from Surrey was walking a section of the Pennine Way from Dufton to Alston when he became lost on Knock Fell, west of Cow Green reservoir in the upper dale. However, he was able to obtain a mobile phone signal to call police, who called out Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team.

Team leader Dave Bartles-Smith said: "I was able to contact the young man and he told me he was lost in limited visibility. I asked him to describe where he had been and what he could now see.

"It became clear that he had missed a right hand turn in the footpath and was heading down into Teesdale. As he seemed in good spirits, I asked him to follow a stream until he came across a remote abandoned farm called Moor House. Once he was able to describe the farm it was a simple matter of directing him along a track where a vehicle picked him up."

He said the incident was the third recently where Pennine Way walkers had wandered off the path and got lost.

"The common factor has been their use of guide books which only show 1-2km wide strips of map," he added. "If walkers go outside this corridor they are unable to relocate themselves. Mountain rescue teams would always advise walkers to have the appropriate full-size map and a compass with them."