A retired farmer from near the Shropshire border has won a 14-year battle to have an historic footpath put on the Definitive Map for the public to enjoy.Frank Pottenger, of Froncysyllte, Llangollen, took his fight to a Government Ombudsman, claiming Wrexham County Borough Council had been “incompetent”.

The footpath, which leads to the ruins of a Methodist chapel, has since been put on the map, but an application has now been submitted to have it diverted, which Mr Pottenger, 76, is also set to challenge.

He said: “I have used that track for 46 years.”

The saga began in 1993 when the track was blocked off. Mr Pottenger complained to the then Clwyd County Council, which found it had been left off the definitive map. The case was later taken up by Wrexham County Borough Council in 1997.

Mr Pottenger said the Welsh Office had decided it was a footpath and should be reinstated in 12 months, but when this was not done, he complained to the Ombudsman of maladministration by Wrexham County Borough Council. The Ombudsman found in his favour and he was awarded £250 compensation.

John Marchant, the council’s parks, countryside and rights of way assistant manager, said the council now intends to employ a new rights of way officer to deal with Definitive Map applications.