The future of an Eden Site of Special Scientific Interest has been secured by a decision to designate a route that runs close by as a footpath, reports Lisa Frascarelli.

The ruling by Cumbria County Council ends fears that the route across Ravenstonedale Moor would become a byway used by 4x4 vehicles and horses churning up the environmentally sensitive area.

The application to officially recognise the one-and-a-half-mile route which runs from High Lane, Newbiggin-on-Lune, to Sunbiggin Tarn was put forward by Ravenstonedale Parish Council many years ago.

But despite the parish council deciding they wanted to withdraw the application, CCC said the wheels had been set in motion and a decision on the route's status must be made.

CCC officers originally recommended that the route should be designated as a Byway Open to All Traffic as they said evidence in a 19th century Ordnance Survey map suggested the route had been more significant than a footpath.

But parishioners feared that if the recommendation got the go-ahead it would threaten the nearby Sunbiggin Tarn and Moors and Little Asby SSSI.

County councillor for Kirkby Stephen, Tim Stoddard, said that, in August, 55 people had turned out for a public meeting in Newbiggin-on-Lune village hall to discuss the fate of the contentious crossing: "I got the message at the meeting people did not want a public byway at any cost. A vote was taken and nobody voted to support a bridleway or by-way, while the majority accepted footpath status to go in across Ravenstondale Moor.

"We all hoped to minimise the effect of human and other activity on what is classified as a SSSI. Everybody was very afraid of what might happen to the area - it is untouched. We had a great fear it would be spoiled."

The safe SSSI is now being considered as a European status Special Area of Conservation because of its expanses of limestone pavements, hard water springs, purple moor grass meadows, alkaline fens and whorl snails the only other place the snail can be found in the UK is in a fen on Anglesey.

Town clerk for Ravenstonedale Parish Council, Percy Robinson, said the decision had been welcomed by parishioners: "We are pleased with the decision. People were very worried about what might happen, especially if we got motorbikes coming across the moor. The feeling is that we are happy with the outcome."

January 3, 2003 12:30