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Partial victory for rights-of-way campaigners

Campaigners for footpaths through land owned by East Devon council to be formally recognised as public rights of way are claiming victory, after a planning inspector overturned a bid to ban public access.

A residents' association in Sidmouth asked for the designation, saying they've been walking through the grounds of the council's headquarters at Knowle for 20 years, and feared losing the access once the site is sold.

Devon county council refused, but on appeal, the planning inspector said two routes should be recognised as public.

East Devon council says this was a mixed outcome in a complex process, and may lodge an appeal.

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