A FOOTPATH at Rawdon has been closed by Leeds City Council because they say it is not safe.

The footpath links the main Leeds Road and Woodlands Drive and residents of Low Green are upset the 'ancient' path has been closed, and blame a lack of maintenance.

The council say repairs to the path would be costly and they have not sufficient funds at the moment to carry out the work.

But local councillors say they have pledged £10,000 from the Ward Based Initiative Scheme (Rats) money towards the repairs.

Barbara Curran of Cliffe Lane, Low Green, says the closure of the footpath was causing inconvenience to residents. "The path is a mess for about a quarter of a mile and has been so for a long time. It is certainly not safe to walk along because of the many holes and part of the path has caved in revealing water pipes. The path has been closed for about a year and I understand it is to be closed for a further year. I am worried that the longer the path is closed then the council will close it for good," she said.

Jane Barrett, also of Low Green, said she had been in touch with Paul Truswell MP who had told her he would look into the matter.

There was no comment from Leeds City Council at the time of going to press.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.