RESIDENTS are to do battle next week with rights of way officers over a long-running barrier controversy.

People living in Havannah Lane, Congleton, put up a six-feet high steel gate at one end of their street in 1996 to keep out trouble makers.

The move enraged councillors, ramblers and parents, whose children faced a long detour to school as a result of the barrier.

The opponents of the gate also said the road was a public right of way, in contrast to the Havannah Lane residents, who said it was private.

Cheshire County Council sought to build up a case to show that the road was a right of way.

County councillors agreed in 2000 to make an order to change the definitive map of the area to show the lane should be open to the public.

It was also agreed the barrier should be taken down as a matter of urgency.

However a solicitor acting for one of the residents challenged the council's authority to take action to remove the gate.

As a result the council's legal advisors said it would be unwise to take the barrier down before a "definitive finding" on the status of the road.

Some nine residents objected to the footpath order, and as a result the issue is to go to a public inquiry.

The inquiry is to start next Tuesday at Congleton Town Hall, and is scheduled to last all week.

Public rights of way officer Alan Beckett will present the county's case.