Witham could be handed sole control of the River Walk after a long running argument about the cost of repairs.

Witham Town Council is considering taking on the freehold of the town’s asset from Braintree Council, as it did with the Whetmead Nature Reserve a few years ago.

The town council currently leases the River Walk from the district authority but takes responsibility for the general running of it.

Witham Town Council leader Michael Lager wrote to the leader of Braintree Council and said: “I think it is generally agreed, certainly in Witham, that [the River Walk] is well look after and that the town council is perfectly capable of managing it properly.

“It is hard to see what is the district council’s residual interest: it is certainly not financial as there is no income, only significant expenditure, nor any prospect of disposal for gain, nor is it reputational, as the River Walk is viewed as a Town Council function, not the district council’s.”

He added that the district council would still be expected to pick up litter and dog mess.

The freehold debate has sprung up following a dispute between the council over which should pay for urgent repairs.