An Ashby councillor has urged local authorities to work together and make sure a footpath from the new Money Hill development to the town centre is completed.

Murrae Blair-Park told last week's meeting of North West Leicestershire District Council's Community Scrutiny Committee that the planned route could come to a dead end if steps are not taken.

Councillors were discussing the district's local cycling and walking infrastructure plan and strategy, designed to encourage residents to get out of their cars.

But Cllr Blair-Park raised a point he has been highlighting publicly for almost a year.

He told the meeting: "For the work they've managed to do on the pathway, it looks if it's going to be ideal until you get to the just above Ivanhoe School. 

"And for whatever reason that land is not really accessible on bicycles or with prams or with wheelchairs. 

"One, because it's a commercial yard. My understanding when I was looking through this, that when the Money Hill development was being initially agreed upon, we were starting to look at this model, in terms of improving cycling in the area, I think it's absolutely the right thing to do. 

Cllr Blair-Park has long campaigned for a decision on the route and is pictured here where building has now begun

"But where we are now is, we've got a blockage. 

"And we get to a point that says, we can cycle, but we can't cycle any further, we can push a pram, but only so far. 

"So they're the bits that slightly concern me because they're so obvious. 

"I think the planning team have now passed it over to the developers. And it's now a County Council problem. 

"But the only problem that exists is for Ashby because all of these ideas, and all this investment looks superb. Until we get to a point that says right, you leave your bikes there, and the school are not aware of an entrance in there. 

"There needs to be a collective coming together. Of what we know, to try and get around this. "

Cllr Blair-Park says it will continue to be a problem unless the issue is addressed.

He says the route is currently a road to nowhere as far as bikes, prams and wheelchairs are concerned.

Cllr Blair-Park added: "I would imagine that there might be an alternative route, but land will probably need to be purchased. 

"But it seems a little bit, after the horse has bolted for me, and we've had a look at it now several times. So in effect, you get to the point just at the top of the yard, and there's no access for cycling or any use of prams, wheelchairs or anything else, you can't take it through the yard. 

"The access the right away across the yard is is by foot only. So there's going to be kids going to school that way and all that sort of stuff. 

"That one seems to slip through the net. It's maybe 100 metres. But everything stops there. I'm absolutely in favour of what you what you want to do. 

"But I would ask that we start to pull together to try and resolve this matter. And not just say, 'Oh, well, it's the county issue now or it's a town issue or whatever else is'. 

"It's a district issue because it wasn't picked up in the first instance. And obviously as you can tell, it means quite a lot to me, it's also in my ward.

"We're trying to get people out of cars in Ashby. This was great idea and looks like superb. And then you stop. So that's the point from from the Money Hill ward."