COUNCIL officials are refusing to re-open road blocked since 1996 until residents can prove anyone used it.

A petition from people in the Redearth Road area of Darwen was sent to Blackburn with Darwen Council asking for Ashton Lane - which appears on local maps - to be reinstated.

The lane once linked Redearth Road to Bolton Road and was, according to residents, regularly used by local people.

Frank Connor, a Darwen councillor, claimed it was blocked in 1996 while two factories carried out alterations to their premises.

Coun Connor told a meeting of Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive committee that the lane had not been re-opened, despite a planning condition saying it should have been.

But instead of enforcing the planning condition, town hall officers asked residents to supply information to prove it had been an open route.

A report said: "A previous attempt by the council to have the route re-opened was not successful due to legal advice stating there was insufficient evidence to prove the route had been a public right of way. It was suggested a person, or persons, who could prove they had usage of the route over a 20-year period should make a claim to the Highway Authority."

Keith Armstrong, of Tower Road, has been trying to get the right of way re-opened for the past eight years and was one of the residents who signed the petition.

After hearing the council wanted someone to prove Ashton Lane had been a right of way he said: "What a load of rubbish! It's on a map and if it's on a map then it's a right of way.

"This has been terrible. Residents just want it sorted."

Darwen councillor Frank Connor, who is also a member of the council's ruling executive committee, said: "I've lived in Darwen for more than 33 years and have used the lane many times.

"The council did not follow up on a condition that said it should only be closed while someone did some work on the side of a factory."