CORNWALL Council is considering whether to adopt a path in Calstock which has been used by local people for many years.

The East Cornwall Times published a story last week describing how the owners of the Kelly Steps had closed the historic route to the riverside over safety fears.

Keith and Claire Pascoe, who bought the steps with their property at Lower Kelly a year ago, said they could not afford the public liability insurance needed to protect them against any litigation should someone have an accident.

Calstock Parish Council said it was not within its powers to take on the footpath, following a request from parish councillor John Roberts.

Cornwall Council said this week: 'The steps are on a path which is in private ownership and they are not recorded either as a public right of way or on the list of streets as a maintainable highway.

'The council has previously declined the offer to adopt the path so that it would be maintainable by the public and the landowner has now made an offer to the council to dedicate the path as a public footpath.

'The council is currently considering whether to accept the offer and will be consulting on the proposal before coming to a final decision.

'It has received correspondence from Calstock Parish Council on this matter and will be responding to this letter in due course.'