RAMBLERS have complained that Sutton farmers are obstructing stiles and preventing access through their land.

They also have concerns about access for older and disabled people over high boundaries and blocked footpaths.

At the last parish council meeting, 75-year-old Edward Gee told members he and his wife had been unable to walk from Sutton Pinnacle to Cowling Pinnacle (the salt and pepper pots) because he could not negotiate the high stile, which was installed when the wall was repaired.

"My wife and I walk a lot," he explained. "It is almost a year since we have been there and we usually use the broken wall to cross. I just couldn't face it and had to turn back.

"It is such a lovely view and a lovely walk and I just wonder if there is anything that could be done to make it more accessible for folk of my age at least. It would be sad if it was not accessible again."

Coun Roy Wilkinson agreed: "It is an obstacle. You notice on a lot of these walks farmers put in stiles which are virtually inaccessible for older people to get over."

Meanwhile walkers Ray Vintner and Andrew Garford came to the same meeting to complain about a six-feet high wall which they claim blocked a footpath leading from Eastburn to Sutton.

"We walked from Intake Lane above Currer Wood. We knew there was a footpath going along the top and we thought we could get right across.

"We walked along the crag top, we came to one stile, went through a field, came to another and then there was nothing else except a six feet wall.

"We want to know is there a path or isn't there? There is no through way unless you climb over the wall which ordinary people can't do.

"Everybody should be able to walk this route because it is beautiful and it is an asset to the South Craven area and it needs to be open. We need to know if it is a path and whether it will be permanently blocked off."

Chairman Steve Morrell said he had also walked that route and believed that there should be a footpath through.

He added that the issue had been raised before and people needed to register that they had walked the route.

"Craven District Council launched an investigation into the situation and there was some dispute whether the footpath was still in use. How far the investigation has progressed I am not sure," he said.

The parish council agreed to write to the district council to ask how the investigation was going. In the meantime he urged people to take a note every time they walked the path, as this would give strength to any dispute.

Meanwhile more complaints arose about farmers deliberately blocking paths.

"Some of the farmers are deliberately blocking routes in the area, putting stones in stiles to stop people going over," Coun Morrell added.

"We are going to mention this to the Ramblers' Association and other associations to see what can be done."