Legoman wrote:

You can't be responsible for something you don't own and therefore don't control. That said, as regards your access road where it runs along the right of way. You have adapted it to your uses. The Council are merely putting you on notice that they won't accept responsibility for the use of it that results in accidents.

Fair play Doc for trying to help

Yes thanks Doc sees its a grey area and it might even be "common land " which on one owns.

Realspeed Ex 2010 Freelander2 GS-e Diesel manual Silver owner

You could always ask the County Council to consider closing the footpath.
If they were to do this it would be possible for you to place a gate over the entrance thereby taking possession of the path and apply to the Land Registry for Possessory Title. In 12 years you could subsequently apply for Absolute Title.

Realspeed, the thing you need to do promptly now is write to the council using recorded mail to say that you disagree with what they have stated and demand to know what legal authority they have to support their stance.

Please post on here or PM me when they disclose their authority (if any). I don't profess to have all the answers off the top of my head but what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over the course of my degree, skills that make me a nightmare for people like them

Seriously though, I do have an arsenal of information available to me via my Uni account online and the law library.  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey