A battling 70-year-old campaigner is appealing to elderly residents in Melksham to help define a much-loved footpath as a public right of way.

Sue Carter, of the Woodrow Road and Local Community Facebook Group, is urging people who used the 40 Acre Field footpath down to the River Avon to contact her as soon as possible.

Mrs Carter submitted an application to Wiltshire Council to have the footpath added to the Definitive Map as a public right of way.

But Wiltshire Council has refused, saying she needs to provide evidence that local people have regularly used the path between 1975 and 1995.

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: “We recently refused this application because of insufficient evidence of usage in the relevant period.

“This is subject to a 28-day appeal period, during which time the applicant could appeal the council’s decision to the Secretary of State.

“If an appeal is lodged, it would be up to the Secretary of State to decide whether they would be willing to accept any further evidence from the applicant.”

Mrs Carter said: “I need the elderly residents of the local area to come forward and fill in the forms to submit evidence to the council that it has been in use for more than 40 years.

“It’s always been a favourite walk for local families and people who walk their dogs down to the River Avon.”

Residents were able to use the path up to about 12 months ago, when the previous tenant farmer Don Burnell moved out of Forest Farm 1 and new tenant Gareth Powell moved in.

He immediately closed the path and set about digging a three-feet ditch all around the 40 Acre Field to stop people from using it.

“His actions have upset everyone around here. There are no words in the English language to describe how we feel about him,” Mrs Carter said.

People started using fields near the Black Bridge managed by next-door tenant farmer Tim Farthing but he also took action to stop them.

Mr Powell said he has farmed the field since moving in nearly two years ago and is growing wheat in it.

“I can’t comment because the land is not mine, it is owned by Wiltshire Council. They are my landlord.

“There is no legal footpath down there and they have decided to refuse the application to make it a public right of way.”

To contact Mrs Carter, please email homely53@yahoo.com