Rights of way battle

A former royal banker has become embroiled in a battle with villagers over footpaths that once made up part of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Pilgrims’ Way.

The future of the ancient paths is to be decided this week in an inquiry over Timothy Steel's right to close them to the public.

Professor of Law, John Fitzpatrick from the University of Kent’s Law Clinic, which has backed locals in their fight said: 'Legally, to establish these routes as public rights of way one has to show that they have been walked as of right for 20 years - which we believe we have done comprehensively.