AN illegal road built across green belt land near Edenfield is set to be ripped up after a two-year struggle by Rossendale council chiefs.

Landowners will now be left with a £5,500 bill as council-employed contractors restore the countryside route to its former glory.

Planning officials were alerted in October 2006 that land between Croston Close Road and Sales Lane was being excavated to form a lane which had no planning permission.

Within weeks the authority obtained an enforcement notice against two land-owners, demanding that all work cease and the land be returned to is previous state.

But one of the landlords behind the scheme, Stephen Dale, of nearby Stand Lees Farm, appealed against the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.

Mr Dale wanted to raise beef cattle in nearby Deeply Vale and investigate the fishing potential of two nearby reservoirs, the inspectorate was told.

But after a hearing in August 2007, inspector Derek Thew threw out the appeal, saying it was inappropriate development in the green belt.

The landowner was given three months to restore the site but, despite repeated discussions, no work was undertaken and Mr Dale moved to Spain.

Meanwhile, council officials contacted the other landowner, who owned the second half of the access track, and he employed contractors to remove remaining roadworkings last June.

But councillors sitting on Rossendale's development control committee have heard that Mr Dale had since contacted the second landowner, demanding he reinstate the road.

The second landowner had made several attempts to contact Mr Dale since them, without success.

Linda Fisher, executive business director, says in a report to councillors: "The proposal is that the council reinstate the land to its former condition as directed by the planning inspector and a charge on the land be registered in order for the costs to be reclaimed off the current owners or from the future sale of the land."

Proposals have been drawn up by officials for County Environmental Services to complete the work, at a cost of £5,500.