Growing gardens

County councillor Mr Bruce Laughton is correct with his comments regarding the cost of footpath applications (Path Claims Hike Up Council Costs, Advertiser, December 8).

I believe Balderton Parish Council is presently fighting a case to stop an application to extend a footpath one metre on to its playing field.

Along with this, there are other footpath issues in the village, one going back more than 20 years, with costs to the taxpayer now running into the thousands.

Perhaps the applicants for these modification orders would like to fund their own personal interests, whether they succeed or fail, if they are so passionate about access to all areas, leaving local authorities to spend their tight budgets where spending is really needed.