Norman, sorry to hear that, I think when things are "back to normal", whenever that is, you may have more success.

I did as you suggested and received an automatic reply on the 26th April stating my query had been received, and would be answered within the next ten days. So far, so good. I then received another response today (27th) stating that the mailbox I used was not monitored, and that I would not get a reply. It referred me to a site that had all sorts of categories, asked for my address and postcode, and got bogged down in detail without specifically asking what my problem was! I have therefore given up as I do not think I am getting anywhere.

Hi Norman, from the Council website:

Can I check if a path is a public right of way?

If you wish to check whether a path is a public rights of way please contact us. On receipt, an Officer will check the status of the route on the definitive map and statement of public rights of way. If the route is not recorded as a public right of way it could be a claimed path. If the path is not recorded then the Council does not have any responsibility to maintain it.

Tel: 03330 035865

Email: traffordhighways@amey.co.uk

Post: Tatton House,11 Caldey Road, Roundthorn Industrial Estate, Manchester, M23 9LF

Just as an afterthought - I had a walk along the old railway line and canal bank this morning (Thursday 23rd April)  and discovered that if you are fairly slim like me, it is possible to slip between the junction of the new fence and the old one bordering the water treatment plant. Whilst I was cogitating over this a police van appeared so I asked the officers if they knew if there is a public right of way. One of them checked via his phone which showed a map with a green line that he said would appear to show a public right of way.

Hello Ivor.

I am not having any luck in getting through to the powers that be. My email bounced back immediately with a note "undeliverable - no such user".

I then tried the phone number but received a recorded message stating all lines were busy so try again later. I did with the same result!

I refer to your topic regarding the former railway line and path between uplands road near Landsdown Road  leading down to jack lane.my os map shows it as public right of way[prow] to Irlam Road. Google map shows it as path with dotted lines down to the canal then onto Irlam locks pass the new fencing and beyond. It might be a unrecorded prow. I suggest you to contact the highway infomation officer at Trafford council sale waterside on 0161 912 3342 or email harrison@trafford.gov.uk

I went on my "allowed execise walk" this morning passing over Irlam Lock. The damged steel fencing has been repaired and on my outward journey from Irlam Road there was a man who was compelled to return all the way to the railway bridge then along the old low level railway embankment. On my return I encountered another couple in the same circumstances.

This poses the question (which has never been definitely answered previously), Is there a public right of way or not? 

If so, whoever is responsible appears to have simply ignored this and had it fenced due to the unsafe state of the footpath alongside the canal between the railway bridge and Irlam Locks. If this is the case it does not make it safer because people still pass the unsafe section before discovering they have to return back over the same unsafe section! This section has subsided several times over the years.

Perhaps the loss of access is something to do with the proposed water turbine at the locks? Most of the trees have been chopped down recently in the vicinity.

So almost ten years later and still the bank hasn't been repaired.  A palisade fence has now been erected, although someone has bent it back to create an access point.

Peel must be a bit skint, what with spending all that money they don't have on the new Liverpool dock, and in Salford.  It must be a hard life.

Peel are responsible for it but don't count on them repairing it.  The footpath between Warburton Bridge and Partington, a right of way whose maintenance they are legally responsible for, has been closed due to landslip for at least 15 years.

Don't know who is resposible for it but that was the cross country route when I was at Wellacre, can't imagine they let the little darlings that near the water nowadays. I just don't know how we all managed to get round the course without drowning, must have been a miracle.

As it was a nice day me and a friend went for a run down the old line towards the ship canal. The path at the side of the canal is in a very dangerous state. I'm not sure who is responsible for this my guess is Peel, but I could be wrong.

I'm sure members of our council watch the forum so please can you do somthing about it.