Written question asked by Brian Iddon (Labour) on Friday, 18 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 March 2005. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Thursday, 10 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action she is taking to resolve the PROW claim regarding bridleways linking the villages of Darcy Lever, Little Lever, Kearsley and Prestolee and the township of Farnworth in the constituency of Bolton South East in the Croal-Irwell Valley.

Answer: Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to resolve the PROW claim regarding bridleways linking the villages of Darcy Lever, Little Lever, Kearsley and Prestolee and the township of Farnworth in the constituency of Bolton, South-East in the Croal-Irwell Valley. [217088] Alun Michael: Bolton metropolitan borough council was directed by the Secretary of State to determine the claim within a specified period which ended in November 2004. The council did not do so; instead it has sought to resolve the claim, and a second one in respect of a linked path, by persuading landowners to dedicate the routes as bridleways. At my request Defra officials have written to the council requesting details of how the council proposes to resolve the matter and its timetable for doing so. I shall review the issue in light of this response.

Secondary information