A WELL-USED alleyway could be adopted by the city council after a call from residents and councillors.

Fulford ward councillor Keith Aspden said he was pressing for Chapel Alley - a snicket linking Main Street and School Lane in Fulford - to be adopted by City of York Council.

The pathway was given for public use in the 18th century so Fulford residents of the time could reach the Methodist Chapel, which has since moved to Main Street.

The alley is not listed on the council's definitive map of rights of way and so cannot be maintained at public expense.

But Coun Aspden said he has been working with Fulford Parish Council to prove that a public right of way exists along Chapel Alley and that the city council should maintain the pathway.

He said: "A large number of residents use Chapel Alley, for example, to reach the shops in Main Street or as a way of reaching the local schools.

"It is very important that the City of York Council can maintain this pathway so that residents can walk in safety."

Parish council chairman Steve Kenwright said he was frustrated at the council for not accepting the alley was a right of way.

"We are pleased to be making some further headway now," he said.

"But we are actually quite frustrated that the council has maintained its position.

"We have got to go through the whole process of registering the footpath as if it was a new one rather than the council seeing common sense."

Fulford resident and former parish councillor Christine Dinsdale welcomed the news, saying: "I think it is excellent. It should have been done years ago."

She said the footpath's surface was uneven and should be resurfaced and there should be lights installed.

"It is a really well-used footpath and it is an excellent cut-through. Children use it to go to school and elderly people use it to get to the shop."

Coun Aspden and Fulford Parish Council have now submitted an order to the Public Rights of Way office at the council. The council maintains a definitive map that is legal proof of the existence of the public rights of way and strong evidence is needed to make any changes to it. It could still take up to five years for the path to be added to this map.