A POTENTIAL new route to Ashby may soon come to fruition, thanks to a mother's five-year pursuit, emerging as a productive legacy of the Covid pandemic.

A proposed three-mile-long footpath could link the town to the village of Worthington, traversing scenic countryside.

During the Covid pandemic, when school buses were suspended, Jacqui Beard faced a dilemma.

Her son Harry needed to travel to Ashby for his studies and exams, but the only available roads were rural and unsafe.

Unable to allow Harry to cycle under such conditions, Jacqui began exploring the possibility of extending the existing Cloud Trail south from Derby for an off-road alternative.

Though Harry has now completed his school years, Jacqui's resolve remains steadfast. After five years of evidence collection and report compilation, Leicestershire County Council announced that a consultation on establishing a new right of way will occur in May.

A route through wooded areas near Newbold Coleorton is already well-trodden, said Jacqui.

The Cloud Trail, a 13-mile path within the National Cycle Network, connects Derby rail station to Cloud Quarry and follows the route of the defunct Melbourne Line railway, which ceased operations in 1982. However, for villagers traveling south, off-road options are absent.

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Jacqui said: "Over the years, what were once quiet country lanes have become quite busy roads, with traffic volumes increasing significantly.

"The main route to Ashby from here is a high-speed road without pavements, featuring central islands that complicate cyclists' safety. Its hilly terrain further exacerbates the risks. When searching for a route my son could cycle, I had to concede, 'I'm sorry, but that road is just too dangerous.'

Instead, Jacqui discovered a disused railway line that could potentially connect the village to bridleways leading into Ashby's center. The proposed route through woodland, the first of three required to fully connect the two communities, runs between Standing Dale near Worthington and Melbourne Road, Newbold Coleorton. Jacqui has demonstrated that this path is frequently traversed.

She explained: "Repeated foot traffic on the same parcel of land establishes a right of way, gradually converting it into a footpath. We diligently sought testimonials from people who had walked the section to assemble statements and complete forms.

"To maintain accessibility, I personally am clearing the path by trimming brambles and cutting away fallen branches."

This endeavor involves a procedural tool known as a Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO).

A spokesperson for Leicestershire County Council confirmed readiness to make an order adding most of the route to its rights of way, with a consultation scheduled for May.

They noted: "The process required identifying landowners along stretches of the route. In instances where ownership was indeterminate, approval was obtained from the Secretary of State, thus enabling the application to advance."

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