THE new landlady of a hotel and residents have won their battle to stop a public footpath going through the car park.

The long-running saga of the path has generated mixed feelings in Thirsk, with hotel owner Mary Nelson spearheading the fight to prevent it becoming a public right of way.

The path runs through the grounds of the Three Tuns Hotel and some had argued that it was a vital link between the swimming baths, the market place and shops.

Thirsk Town Council had wanted to designate the path as a public right of way and submitted supporting letters and evidence of use by local people in an application to North Yorkshire County Council.

But this week Mrs Nelson and other objectors convinced the county council that the path should stay closed off.

Mrs Nelson agreed that the public had used the path in the past, even after it had been shut to cars, but she said it had never been a public right of way. She objected to the council's move over concerns about the security of the hotel car park and the safety of people living in houses next to the path.

It is the second time that an owner of the hotel has managed to prevent the town council from claiming the footpath as a public route.

In 1956, then-owner William Youngers Brewery did the same thing.

Thirsk Town Council has the right to appeal against the decision.