A RAFT of new public rights of way have been approved across the borough.

New routes - including Canal Street; Smithies Lane to Bar Lane; Bar Lane to Lee Lane; disused railway lines at Athersley North to Crookes Lane; Fitzwilliam Street to Watt Road in Elsecar; Stottercliffe Road to the Trans Pennine Trail at Penistone; Shaw Lane at Carlton Marsh and Warbler Way in Wombwell - were all given the green light.

Ruling cabinet members supported the plans at a meeting on Wednesday.

A report said: “The council as a highway authority has a statutory duty to maintain a register of public rights of way in the borough and is also required to keep the map and statement under continuous review, ensuring that the records are up to date and in doing so helping to protect public rights.

“Several routes have been identified on council-owned land which do not currently have the recorded public right of way status that is desired or which in some cases have already likely been established in law.

“Some of the routes have no formal status at present, while others are recorded as footpaths but should be upgraded to bridleways.

“It is proposed that the council formally dedicates the routes identified on the plans and associated schedules attached to this report as public rights of way for use by the public having the status of public footpath or public bridleway as specified in each case.”