A POPULAR riverside footpath in North Herefordshire could stay closed for 20 years, the Ramblers' Association said at the launch of a campaign to have the route re-opened.

Eardisland, a magnet for tourists on the Black & White Village Trail, is promoted as a historic riverside settlement.

But visitors and villagers can no longer walk by the River Arrow to see kingfishers, herons and other wildlife. A middle section of the riverbank path was closed in 2000 because of erosion. Herefordshire Council says nothing can be done for the foreseeable future.

The Ramblers Association has accused the authority of "dragging its heels". The path is likely to remain closed to the public until 2026 because of a council backlog of path modification orders, the association claims.

Campaigns manager Des Garrahan, who joined villagers on a riverside demonstration on Tuesday, said: "We just don't know how Herefordshire Council can afford to take this attitude given the number of riverbank footpaths in its care. The council needs a proper policy to protect vulnerable paths."

Greta Pennington, a villager and Ramblers member said two "ridiculous stub ends" of the path remained but a scenic through-route used by local people for hundreds of years was blocked.

Herefordshire Council public rights of way manger Rob Hemblade said: "Parts of the paths in Eardisland have been eroded and are no longer considered as footpaths maintainable at the public's expense.

"Herefordshire Council has weighed up the benefits of creating an alternative path against the costs and have come to a decision that it is not a viable option.

"Whilst the Ramblers have initiated a legal claim for an alternative footpath near the river, there is currently a backlog of similar such claims throughout the county and the Ramblers will need to wait their turn."