WALKERS can continue using a countryside footpath after campaigners stopped the route being diverted.

The footpath, at Hope-under-Dinmore crosses the railway line, but Network Rail and Herefordshire Council wanted to replace the route with one to the north that passes under the railway and is used by vehicles.

Peter Newman, who's part of campaign group Open Spaces Society, said it was great that the complaint had been upheld.

"We are delighted to have saved this footpath for the use and enjoyment of walkers in Herefordshire's beautiful countryside," Mr Newman said.

"It is no good moving the footpath to a different crossing if walkers then cannot gain access to the paths they want to use.

"It is excellent that the inspector has upheld the objection from the Open Spaces Society."

When the formal order was published for public comment, the Open Spaces Society was the only objector, and Herefordshire Council referred the matter to the Planning Inspectorate for determination on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The inspector Helen Slade issued her decision last month and refused to confirm the order.

While she recognised that some people might prefer to use the alternative crossing under the railway, she considered that the proposed diversion did not meet the tests in section 119 of the Highways Act 1980, the relevant legislation.

In particular, the proposed diversion took walkers further away from the routes to the west and south which were the most popular, as evidenced by the tracks on the ground.

In order to reach these routes walkers would have to use a footpath which ran south from the new diversion and which was unusable.

The inspector agreed with the Open Spaces Society that the increased distance for walkers, and the poor state of the connecting footpath, outweighed any benefit from the safer crossing of the railway.