CONTROVERSIAL plans to divert a public footpath in Okehampton which has been used as a short cut by Leeze Park residents for many years were supported this week by West Devon Borough Council.
The issue came before a meeting of the borough planning committee in Okehampton on Tuesday, January 6 following a site visit last month.
The footpath which runs from Leeze Park to the exit onto Castle Road was designated Footpath 41 on the definitive public rights of way map in April 2001, on the basis it had been in regular use for more than 20 years.
The decision on whether to redirect the footpath to facilitate the building of two dwellings already given outline consent, ultimately rests with the Planning Inspectorate.
A number of residents had expressed their opposition to the proposed change, saying the new footpath would be too steep a gradient making access difficult for the disabled, elderly, cyclists and people with young children in push chairs.
Cllr Ken Williams said: ?It?s not an easy path for people to negotiate at the bottom, on the other hand the gradient and difficulty that will be imposed on many people, particularly those living in Leeze Park is a very serious objection.?
Cllr Williams told the meeting he was not inclined to support the diversion of the footpath, but he did hope some attention could be paid to the general condition of the path to improve access for residents.
John Milverton said the issue before committee members was whether they felt the new footpath would be just as good or better than the existing one.
Councillors resolved to support the footpath diversion order prior to it being dispatched to the Planning Inspectorate.