A FIGHT to get a disputed Otley footpath reopened has now entered its tenth year.

The path from Lisker Drive to Leeds Road, known as Piggy Lane, was first blocked off when a householder erected a wall back in 2007.

Shortly afterwards many residents submitted evidence to Leeds City council to support a claim to get the route officially adopted - and so reopened.

But that claim joined a long backlog of cases waiting to be investigated by Leeds City Council's Public Rights of Way department.

A planning decision in 2016, which refused an application to replace 11 Lisker Court with two houses, had given those still fighting to get Piggy Lane reopened cause for hope.

The refusal was based primarily on the fact the scheme would 'fail to reinstate an existing Public Right of Way'.

Despite that, however, the case has remained on the waiting list - though it is, slowly, climbing up the 'top ten'.

Trinity Rise resident David Mowlam, who has been calling for action for years, has sent yet another of his annual messages to the Public Rights of Way team about the issue.

It says: "It is now ten years since Piggy Lane was blocked off, and scores of residents wrote to the council objecting.

"Can you please give me some indication as to when the council will finally start dealing with this?

"Last year you said it would be when application number eight reached the top of the list, and you hoped to deal with six applications a year. So is Piggy Lane at number 2?!"

Mr Mowlam is still waiting for a response, but Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon) has received a positive-sounding update from the department.

He has been told Piggy Lane is set to be part of the next batch of cases that is considered, possibly this autumn - and will included as part of an investigation into six routes around the Cambridge estate.

He said: "It is good news that the issue of Piggy Lane looks as though it will finally be settled.

"This used to be an easy route for residents of the Cambridge estate to access Leeds Road and the bus stop, but since the path was blocked they have had to make a long detour.

"Hopefully the route will soon be reopened.

"I also understand that the council's Public Rights of Way section will be looking at several other claimed footpaths in the Cambridge area.

"Given the prospect of further housing to the east of Otley it is important that these footpath routes are defined and protected."