RESIDENTS of Northlew will be fighting to prevent footpaths being created on their land at a public inquiry in the village on Tuesday.

Local farmers are asking for support from the rest of the community in their objections to the three new paths proposed by an organisation called Green Lanes which they say will pose a security risk and encroach on their privacy.

Parish councillor Denis Adams said the village would be disputing Green Lanes' claim that these footpaths once existed in the early 1900s.

'Two of these paths pass the front door of farmers' properties and it is not right that people should be allowed to walk all over their land,' he said.

'As far as we know these have never been footpaths and only the postman has used the routes to deliver the mail in a private agreement with the owners.'

Mr Adams was one of 14 farmers who objected to a previous application by Green Lanes some five years ago when the organisation wanted to upgrade bridleways to take four-wheel drive vehicles and create new footpaths, but the proposals were thrown out by the county council.

'A footpath across a farmer's land devalues the property nowadays, and we already have lots of footpaths in Northlew,' he added.

Jenny Roberts, of Lambert Farm, said one of the paths being proposed would go across her lawn and she was very concerned about security.

'This particular little battle has been going on since 1995 and it is an absolute disgrace that it can carry on this length of time,' she said.

'It is accentuated by the fact that Green Lanes, which is made up of ramblers, the Open Space Society and the British Horse Society, never talk to people first about what they want to do. Perhaps if they did we could reach a compromise.'

A spokesperson for Devon County Council said the authority had been asked to put an order in for three public rights of way, but at the moment it was remaining independent on the issue.

'Our views will not be expressed until the public inquiry,' said the spokeswomen.

'Green Lanes want to put in these rights of way, which until now have not been recognised, and once they are on the definitive map they are there to stay.'

The inquiry begins at 10am and anyone is welcome to attend. Those who wish to speak should register their views with the county council.