FOOTPATHS and bridleways should not be reopened in the foreseeable future according to Yorkshire Dales National Park chiefs this week.

Mr David Butterworth, chief executive of the authority, told members at its meeting in Skipton on Tuesday, the authority could only start preparing for the day the countryside could be opened up once again.

Mr Butterworth said: "At some point in the future there will be a reopening of the public rights of way network. This is likely to involve initially a partial reopening."

He added: "Authority staff are involved in discussions with North Yorkshire County Council in developing risk assessments of where it may be possible to reopen parts of the public rights of way network."

Mr Butterworth said there was some evidence farmers and local communities would in the future be willing to see the partial reopening of the public rights of way network in the south of the park so far clean of the disease.

However, he went on to say this was not the case in the north where the primary concern was and continued to be the prevention of the spread of the disease.

Mr Butterworth said the authority had already been lobbied by business groups in Hawes for the re-opening of the Dales Countryside Museum, which had been closed as an attraction during the crisis, although it had been opened on an information only basis.

"We said we didn't want visitors coming to that area of the national park at that particular time. The museum needs to be re-opened at some point in time, but at this particular time it needs to be closed as we have not got an end to the outbreaks in upper Wensleydale."

He added the situation would be reviewed on a weekly basis.

Member Mr John Sayer said he understood and had sympathy with the plight of businesses and anyone in the tourist trade in the area.

However, he added: "The pressure to open public rights of way must not be allowed to run ahead of scientific and veterinary advice."

He added it was just too dangerous to open up the footpaths with cases being identified in Hawes and in upper Wensleydale and the Lake District.

"Only by continual vigilance will we keep the outbreak under control and we are not at that point yet."

Member Mr David Ireton added he also fully appreciated the situation faced by the business community, but added it was "premature" to start thinking about re-opening footpaths until at least the disease was "moving backwards".

Member Mr Mike Childs added everyone should be working together and the authority should be pushing for some sort of compensation for businesses which had been "desperately affected".

He added people in the business community should be recording loss of earnings and gathering evidence, so that they could back up their assertions if compensation schemes were set up in the future.

l A programme of "safe" events for the public during the foot and mouth crisis has been drawn up by the park authority.

The series of village and town walks, craft demonstrations and workshops runs throughout April and aims to encourage visitors to the area.

It was put together after the authority cancelled its original programme for April, owing to the disease and the closure of footpaths and bridleways.

Mrs Karen Griffiths, interpretation officer, said: "With the public set to return to the countryside this Easter we have revamped our events programme to ensure there is something on offer to appeal to people of all ages and tastes.

"We will lead village walks, run craft demonstrations and lay on fun events for children throughout April."

The programme includes beginners' rag rug making at Reeth and a stick-making demonstration at Aysgarth, both on April 11, and a monoprinting workshop at Reeth on April 22, as well as walks and events in the Craven area. Full details are available from 01756 752748.