ANGRY councillors have rejected appeals from walkers for support in making a path through school grounds a public right of way after a fence put up to protect students blocked it off.

Walking group Hambleton Strollers say the path through the grounds of Bedale High School has been used by the public for more than 50 years and new fencing should have been put up either side of the path to keep it clear.

But Bedale Town councillors said the track had never been a public path, applauded the school for safeguarding children and refused to back the campaign.

Headmaster Mick Jolly, who attended the town council meeting, said there had been repeated incidents of dog walkers leaving faecaes on the field, several incidents of people using aggressive behaviour towards youngsters and 36 windows in the school broken.

Paul Fisher of Hambleton Strollers said there had been no consultation over closing off the path, but if they could prove that the path had been in existence for 20 years there was a chance of making it a public right of way.

He added: “It should have been fenced off on one side and then on the other side, instead they have gone for the cheap option which has blocked both ends of the path. I understand the need to keep children safe but they have blocked off a path that has been used for over 50 years.”

But Councillors Ellen Dunning and John Noone said they had attended the school and it had always been a farm track and not a public footpath.

Cllr Amanda Coates added: "As a parent with a child at the school I am disgusted and shocked that you would put the school through this for the sake of walking round. I have no objections to walking that extra half a mile, I am pleased that the school put the fence up, it is safeguarding the children.”