People can’t agree on where they can walk and drive near a Sefton beauty spot.
The problem centres on an area leading to sand dunes off St Lukes Church Road in Formby and the question of whether people have a right of way to walk or drive along pathways on private land.
The dispute has been going on nearly 30 years, since an application was made by the Formby Civic Society to include public rights of way on a definitive map of the area.
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These rights of way were claimed to have been put into use historically to give access to the dunes and beach through various different owners, including at times Sefton Council.
The application by Formby Civic Society was withdrawn shortly after it was put forward and before any decision was made about the various rights of way.
In 2017, a new application was made by Formby Parish Council to modify the map and include rights of way at various points from St Luke’s Church Road, including at Alexander Road and Albert Road.
Currently a large section of St Luke’s Church Road is blocked off to vehicle traffic by a gate, with private property signs next to it. Along the road, which leads towards Formby beach, there are a smattering of houses.
The rights of way issue has been brought back to the council’s licensing and regulatory committee on several occasions. In January 2022 and order was issued laying out where Sefton Council agreed rights of way existed, although after objections were received the council reconsidered and made modifications.
Bringing a list of modifications considered by officers to a meeting of the licensing and regulatory committee today, June 14, which included restricted rather than full access for several of the routes, one officer said the case had become so complex he could “talk for days” about the many twists and turns the situation has taken over the years.
Presenting the report to the committee officer Brian Goodwin said: “This is the fourth report since 2018 on the matter.
“This report is the latest of the applications the council have received from the civic society and Formby Parish. We have added a number of routes on the statement.”
Mr Goodwin said that due to some issues over a lost map from the original 1991 application and to avoid legal difficulties, the council have accepted that while there is public access, this does not include vehicular access.
He added that if any further objections to the map are received, it will be brought once again to committee for further discussion.
Responding, the chair of the committee Cllr John Kelly said: “It will no doubt come back” as members resolved to accept the recommendations and the modifications to the map set out in the report.
