PLANS to create a footpath to improve safety in Mary Tavy and supported by the majority of people at a public meeting recently, have been put on hold after the parish council could not reach a decision.

The footpath, which would go from opposite Mary Tavy Post Office through the playing fields and farmland and the Mary Tavy Inn to Bullers Park Road, avoiding the busy A386, received a vote of 5 to 1 in favour at a recent public meeting attended by more than 60 residents.

But at a meeting of the parish council recently to decide whether to go ahead with the plans, the vote was 3-3 with 2 abstentions.

Although Mary Tavy Parish Council declined to give a comment to the Times, member Cllr Anita Prosser said her personal view was that there were many unanswered questions about how to finance the project.

She said she was not convinced that the project was necessary because there was a 'back-road way' to Bullers Park Road without walking on the A386 or that everyone in the village wanted it.

'The parish would have to make a £900 commitment to the project which would mean raising the precept and there are lots of things in the village that need money spending on them, for example, the playing fields,' she said.

'We have been told there are grants available but before we have to commit ourselves I would like to see all our questions answered fully, concisely and in writing.'

Mrs Prosser said she had been a parish councillor for 13 years and had always worked hard for the village: 'If this footpath would make a lot of people happy then I would be all for it but I would like to see a questionnaire circulated in the village so we could get the opinions of more than 60 of our 700 residents.'

Resident George Hill said there were many young families in the village and older residents who like to walk but at the moment they could not go in that direction.

'The footpath is needed to prevent people having to walk on a section of the main road and risk their lives,' he said. 'I think it is a disgrace that considering so much support at the public meeting, the parish council cannot see its way to support this proposal.'