Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is to contact solicitors in an effort to identify the owner of an unregistered public walkway in Ballycastle.

The pathway runs between Ramoan Road and Coleraine Road, adjacent to the town’s police station. It is used daily by local residents as a pedestrian link.

Sinn Féin councillor Cara McShane brought forward a motion at June’s Corporate Policy and Resources Committee meeting. She requested that council officers seek information on ownership because previous enquiries had established the laneway was not in council hands and no statutory body had claimed responsibility.

Her motion stated that clarifying ownership would help determine who should handle future maintenance and management.

During the subsequent full council meeting, McShane noted the committee minutes did not record a firm decision to contact solicitors. DUP councillor Darryl Wilson had suggested the matter be raised at the Partnership Panel instead.

A council officer said the minutes were accurate because committee members had not formally agreed to approach solicitors. The discussion had broadened to include similar situations elsewhere in the borough.

At the full meeting, members agreed at McShane’s request both to contact solicitors and to place the issue on the agenda of a future Partnership Panel meeting.