AFTER a 90-minute meeting residents of Heathfield Drive and Sale Lane in Tyldesley are still deadlocked in their footpath battle.

But the meeting, under the watchful eye of mediator Cllr Stephen Hellier, wa s a step in the right direction.

The battle lines were drawn a few weeks ago after several residents blocked off a footpath next to their homes denying access to other residents wanting to travel to Sale Lane from Heathfield Drive.

The decision to close the path was taken, it was claimed, because of continuing vandalism.

But, says the opposing camp, the closure is not only causing inconvenience to residents, its is also illegal.

And as both sides squared up for what looked like a long and nasty fight to the finish, local councillor Stephen Hellier agreed to step into the ring as referee.

After the meeting, where both sided frankly exchanged views, a settlement was still as far away as ever.

Cllr Hellier said: "Both sides wanted to meet and we've now achieved that. As a result, people have a better understanding of the positions being taken and the legal implications have been clarified.

"I did not expect to achieve an instant solution to the problem at this stage, but I hope that this airing of views will help."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.