CONTROVERSIAL plans to close a public footpath in York have been approved by a Government inspector.

Planning inspector Barney Grimshaw has upheld City of York Council's decision to close a right of way through the grounds of St Peter's School, despite local opposition.

The school and council wanted it shut to boost school security and to help prevent crime. But local campaigners the Clifton Path Action Group said the path was a historic right of way and should remain open.

The decision means that objectors' only option now is to challenge the order in the High Court, and they have six weeks to do so.

In a 69-point report Mr Grimshaw said: "The alternative routes available are clearly not as attractive in some respects as the order route, but are nevertheless reasonable.

"Overall, although the loss of such a valuable local amenity will be unfortunate, the closure of the footpath is in my view expedient in light of all the relevant circumstances."

The school's headmaster, Richard Smyth, said: "We are relieved that the decision of the inspector at the public inquiry will improve the safety and security of our pupils and staff.

"We do realise closure will cause a degree of inconvenience to some local people, but we believe that, based on all the advice we received, we had to act."

As well as closing the footpath, St Peter's has for some time been taking a number of other measures to improve perimeter security, including the installation of new fencing and gates as well as renewing railings and reinforcing hedging.

But Philip Crowe, the chairman of the Clifton Path Action Group, described the report as "a disappointing decision for the community".

He said: "I think the inspector's report has resolved the problem as far as I can see at the moment, because this has been a running sore in the side of the community for many, many years. From that point of view at least we have come to some sort of solution, even though this is not what the community would have wanted.

"However, we will now be looking at the judgement in detail and deciding what to do next."

Clifton ward councillor Ken King said he had hoped the decision would go the opposite way and he was disappointed with the outcome.

He said: "I still maintain that the footpath should be advertised better so that it encourages more people to use it, because that is more likely to cut crime.

"I also don't agree crime is a reason for closing that path. When you look at the other crime figures for schools in and around York they don't differ much from St Peter's and many of them have more problems.

"I would like to see the figures from the school in future to see if crime levels have fallen if the path is closed."

The footpath has been at the centre of a long-running wrangle, and a public inquiry began in the Guildhall in January to determine its future.

The inquiry overran, and was adjourned until April, when the two main opponents of the scheme - the Clifton Path Action Group and the Ramblers' Association - set out their case during hearings at St Peter's School.

Updated: 11:05 Thursday, May 18, 2006