The endgame is in sight in a decade-long battle to have a public footpath built between Goldenbank and Swanpool, but fears have been raised that the final cost to taxpayers could be huge.

The footpath, which has been opposed by neighbouring residents and representatives of Falmouth Town Council, would lead from the bottom of the Swan’s Reach estate to the back of Swanpool.

The partially-created path currently ends at a wall.

On Monday, the government’s planning inspectorate published the results of a public inquiry that was held last month to decide whether the footpath could go ahead.

Inspector Roger Pritchard, who was appointed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to chair the inquiry, concluded that “the path would be well used and would represent additional convenience to a significant number of local residents.”

He noted that “the number of properties significantly affected” by the creation of the footpath would be small – “only half a dozen houses,” he said.

He added: “The substantial additional convenience to local residents outweighs both any additional risks to those using it [the path] and its effects on those who have an interest in the land which it would cross.”

Cornwall councillor for the area, Mike Varney, has supported the scheme for many years and was present at the inquiry, representing his constituents and the council, together with highway network manager Jeremy Edwards and council legal officer Vanessa Davis.

Mr Varney described the inquiry result as “absolutely fantastic news," despite admitting he did not know what the eventual cost would be.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the outcome. I hope now that, once this is completed, the people from the estate of Swan’s Reach respect the people who were objecting to this. It’s only 98 metres at the end of the day.”

Mr Varney did caution that the path plans could still be scuppered if an appeal lodged over the way the inquiry was held is taken to the High Court in the next six months.

Cornwall Council will also have to display notices informing people about the order to create a new footpath “for about a month” before work takes place.

Falmouth councillor Jenny Booth, who was asked to represent the town council at the inquiry in opposition to the footpath, said the objectors felt it would not be of “benefit for the whole of the town to enjoy.”

She said: “Due to the outcome of the inquiry the possible claims for compensation by the residents of the Swanpool area could be substantial.

“This will affect the whole town as the council taxpayers will have to pick up the bill for creating the footpath at some stage, so this will be reflected in any rise in council tax in the future.”

Some of the houses in the affected area are valued at more than £700,000 and their owners could claim as much as 40 per cent of the value of their properties for the loss of privacy, Mrs Booth believes – a potential cost to the taxpayer of more than £250,000 per claim.

Although admitting that he did not know what the eventual cost of the footpath would be, Mr Varney said it would offer a safer alternative for those currently forced to use the narrow and winding Swanpool Road.

He said: “What I would say is you cannot put a price on somebody’s life.

“I’m extremely disappointed that we couldn’t come to an agreement with the six or seven properties at the ‘other side of the fence’ because it would have saved on a lot of cost and it would be nice for everybody to be in agreement," he added.