ELDERLY and disabled residents living in Okehampton's Leeze Park and Castle Road are objecting to a proposal to divert a public footpath.

Residents say the path has been used as a short cut to town for many years but plans to resite it to allow two homes to be built would make it inaccessible to many of those who regularly use it.

West Devon Council planners are due to hold a site inspection today (Thursday) to look into the proposal to divert the footpath in order to build two dwellings which have been granted outline planning consent.

Fifteen letters of objection have been received by the planning committee from residents and members of the public, who argue the proposed footpath would be too steep a gradient and would require steps to be installed, making it inconvenient and potentially dangerous for the disabled, elderly, cyclists and parents with young children in pushchairs.

The existing footpath runs from Leeze Park to Castle Road situated on sloping wasteland and is unsurfaced.

The new footpath

design would include steps which disabled people and mothers with pushchairs say would make it inaccessible to them.

The residents say they would prefer the footpath to remain sited where it is, but for the state of it to be improved, particularly at the bottom of the path by Castle Road.

Cllr Kenneth Williams, ward member for Okehampton West, said: 'It is a well-used road, and I have some sympathy with the people who have used this footpath for years.

'Disability access is a very important issue and the matter needs very serious consideration before any decision is taken.'

Sydney Maslin, who lives in Leeze Park, said the proposed alternative path was unsuitable for residents, many of whom were elderly.

'It is a bit of a dicey job, particularly for old age pensioners and for people who have children and need to use a pushchair or shopping trolleys.

'If you divert it anywhere you are going to run into more problems than ever.'

Mr Maslin added he would like to see the bottom end of the path

become a more gentle gradient which would be easier for elderly residents.

Okehampton Town Council has backed the case made by residents and has registered its objection on the grounds that steps would 'preclude the use of the footpath by some members of the community'.

But West Devon planning officers say the existing path is little more than a rough track and is not suited to access for all. Officers believe 'the proposed path, being properly surfaced, would be an improvement.

The path has been used by residents on the estate as a short cut to town for many years, but was only adopted and appeared as Footpath 41 on the definitive public rights of way map two years ago, on the basis it had been in regular use for in excess of 20 years.

The matter of the location of the footpath needs to be resolved before the detailed design of the proposed houses can be approved.

Members of the planning committee discussing the footpath order at a meeting last week decided to hold a site visit to consider residents' objections before making any decision.