WALKERS, horse-riders and cyclists who have been "locked out" from using a countryside route on their doorstep are a step closer to regaining access after councillors threw their weight behind them.

For the last year, villagers in Great Durnford have been denied access to certain tracks on the Durnford Estate, with the estate's landowners installing locked gates and signs.

An application to record two lengths of bridleway and upgrade part of a footpath to a bridleway on the estate hinges on whether the public have acquired the right to use it, which they must do by demonstrating they have used it openly for 20 years.

With the landowner having notified Wiltshire Council in 2005, that it had no intention of dedicating any public rights of way, the community had to prove its regular use of the tracks between 1984 and 2004.

Speaking at a Southern Area Planning Committee meeting earlier this month, Nicholas Gallop who submitted the application in 2015, said: "Great Durnford is a small community and the fact that over 30 pieces of evidence have been gathered and there are about 20 people here tonight demonstrates the very strong feeling about this.

"We have acquired the rights to use the path and if the community had been aware these rights were threatened, it would have made a challenge at the time. It's been a secret process.

"But we have now put together the evidence - lots of people use those paths."

Another resident, Fiona Curtis, said: "I've been in this valley for 25 years and would ride those tracks daily but for the last 12 months, they have been closed - I have felt locked out of the valley. It may seem like two small, unimportant tracks but they are vitally important because they give you a circle to the valley to ride .

"It's a well-known circle. By closing it, it's taken the valley away from the people who live here. It's caused great sadness having them locked up."

In total 27 people gave evidence saying they had used the route, which involves the Durnford paths 8, 25 and 26, on foot, cycle and horse-back.

The estate which was sold in 2013 is now owned by Ross and Gemma Turner.

The landowners claim that estate staff would always challenge users when they saw them, and say the evidence is insufficient.

On January 12, Wiltshire councillors voted unanimously to support the application.

Councillor Chris Devine said: "Without footpaths, bridlepaths and rights of way, there is no access to the countryside. You either own and have access to it or you don't. Without public access, why do we even bother having countryside?"

Councillor Richard Clewer called the evidence "clear and compelling".

The application will now be determined by the Secretary of State.