In reply to Peter Evely's letter (November 10), I would like to highlight several points.

Public Footpaths are not Public Highways according to the "definitive map" of the 1930s. They are, in fact, "footpaths" and were designed to assist farmworkers of that era to get to their workplaces.

By his own admission, he refers to "Wigginton Footpath 14", not Public Footpath 14 and says it has been blocked for many years. This is because no one in his or her right mind would want to walk a path ending on a dangerous main road.

I also refer him to two cases in Wigginton where "footpath's" have been moved or closed because of redevelopment. When it suits the City of York Council to pass land for building consent there seems to be no problem re-directing or closing footpaths.

Council leader Rod Hills stated in an article in the Evening Press on November 10 that an £8 million shortfall in next year's budget,"means tax rises and cuts in services are inevitable".

I suggest that Mr. Evely helps the council reduce this shortfall by concentrating on improving public highways for the majority and not wasting time and money on footpaths that only a minority of people wish to use.

C J Jeffery,

Usher Lane,

Haxby,

York.

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