A PROPOSAL to divert a long -established footpath has sparked a row in a rural east Durham community.

Leading the campaign to keep the footpath where it is, Lawrence Teasdale has pledged to fight Haswell Parish Council's proposal to move the walkway.

The footpath's history goes back almost 40 years, to a time when Haswell residents clubbed together to buy a plot of meadowland for a public recreation ground.

Trustees were appointed to maintain the Haswell Recreation Ground, but lack of funding meant the grassland was never developed.

Instead the public open space became established as a walkway and a plot for grazing horses.

A well-worn path which disects the meadow, and stretches from Field House Terrace to Hall Lane, not only became a recognised thoroughfare, but is now also included in an official tourist guide as the recommended route to one of the region's most popular walkways, from Haswell to Hart.

But the future of both the path and meadow has been cast into doubt recently with the only two remaining trustees now unwilling to continue.

Their resignation prompted the Charity Commission to invite Haswell Parish Council to take over the responsibility.

With recreation facilities already existing elsewhere in the village, the parish authority drew up several new options for the site - from selling the land, to its preferred option of diverting the path down the side of the meadow, fencing off the site and letting the grazing rights.

But Mr Teasdale, whose home overlooks the meadow and who admits he is also protecting his own view, fears the site will be developed for housing.

Backed by a 100-plus name petition, he said: "We just want it to be left as it is. Hundreds of walkers use the path and the meadow is full of beautiful plants from marsh orchids to more common wild flowers."

Clerk to the parish council Dennis Coates said nothing had been decided, but gave an assurance that residential development was "not an option.''

The parish, he said, simply wanted to enhance the "untidy" site for residents.

The matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the parish council on Tuesday at 7pm in Haswell community centre.