Walk of protest

Villagers and a contingent from Wigan branch of the Ramblers' Association completed a circular tour of the Higher Green area to highlight what they say is a lack of maintence and absence of signposts indicating where the public footpaths are.

The walkers started from Astley Green Colliery Museum and circulated the village and parts of Boothstown on a two hour walk which highlighted neglected paths.

Group spokesman John Neale, of Higher Green Lane, explained how an evident lack of signs had caused great unease with users wary of trespassing and forced them to abandon walks.

Mr Neale, said: "The walk was a great success. It included footpaths which are maintained by Salford City Council and these highlighted the neglect other paths have received in the area covered by Wigan Council. Those in the Boothstown area are well maintained with no overgrowth and the paths are clearly signposted making walking a lot more relaxing."

Start of long fight

He says over the past 18 months he has regularly contacted Wigan about the state of the footpaths and says last month a rights of way officer from Wigan inspected the area.

Mr Neale said: "This is only the start of a long fight to improve these paths. When we do achieve what we wish for we will repeat the walk on the footpaths to the south of Astley Green until we are satisfied that the footpaths are safe and reliable for all to enjoy."

But a spokesman for Wigan Couincil said the authority was spending more than ever on footpaths.

He said: "With a 475 kilometre network and a limited budget it's not always possible to maintain paths to the dtandards we would ideally want. Our footaths officers has met Mr Neale and agreed to cut vegetation from the path which was concerning him most."

The spokesman said more funds for upgrading footpaths in the area could come from landfill tax credits which were being applied for by hopeful locals on the Whitehead waste disposal site management committee.