A SEVEN-year long wrangle over a footpath in Huntington that has cost York council hundreds of pounds is likely to be settled by a government hearing, a councillor has said.

The row over a track from Malton Road to Jockey Lane, which Huntington Parish Council, admits is only used by a handful of people, began in January 1998.

City of York Councillors have agreed to add the path to the authority's official rights of way map after years of debate. But Coun Keith Hyman, who chaired the planning committee meeting, said he fears the landowners - who oppose the decision - will now appeal.

He said: "The expenditure is phenomenal, but if somebody is saying we want it designated we have to make the investigations.

"If you add up the hours of office time that have been spent on it already, including meetings, you are looking at many tens of hours for a reasonably small stretch of land."

If the landowners, Mr and Mrs Wardell, object to the council's order, the final decision will be made by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

"I would be very surprised if it does not go any further," said Coun Hyman.

"I am sure we will see it raise its head again."

The dispute over the path, which runs past Huntington Stadium, started when Huntington Parish Council submitted an application on behalf of Elizabeth Murray, of Malton Road.

It withdrew the claim twice because the application was incomplete, but a council investigation was finally started in 2002. Huntington parish clerk Paul Richardson said: "To be honest, I do not think many people are aware of the track itself and, certainly, it has not generated a great deal of interest to my knowledge.

"I would be very surprised if anyone was aware of it apart from the applicants.

"But any track across a green belt area is worthwhile fighting for in this day and age because we are seeing far too many of them being put under concrete.

Alison Newbould, City of York Council's public rights of way officer, said if an appeal is made a final decision is likely to be reached by February.

Updated: 10:14 Monday, September 26, 2005