Wiltshire Council has said that its backlog of more than 360 applications to modify public right of way maps is not “unusual” among rural authorities.

The council was criticised recently after a man said he was unsure he would see his applications resolved before he dies.

Correspondence between the Planning Inspectorate and the applicant, Chas Townley, revealed that some applications submitted to Wiltshire Council had been pending for over 20 years.

View from Croft Lane in Latton, near one of the paths mentioned in the application.View from Croft Lane in Latton, near one of the paths mentioned in the application. (Image: Google)
READ MORE: Wiltshire Council criticised for right of way applications backlog

The inspector concluded that it would be “unreasonable for the applicant to wait at least another ten years” and directed the council to make a decision before the end of the year.

Wiltshire Council has now provided a statement on the backlog of pending applications.

Cllr Nick Holder, cabinet member for highways said: "We do have a backlog in processing rights of way applications, but this is not unusual among rural authorities, and many around the country have similar backlogs.

"Changing or modifying a single right of way is an extremely comprehensive and thorough process that takes many months of historical investigation and work to produce reports that can be 80 pages long.

"We will continue to do all we can to process applications to change rights of way as soon as we can.”