An Ashby councillor says the sudden closure of a key footpath close to the new Money Hill development will force pedestrians to use a busy road.

Murrae Blair-Park believes the move by home builders Taylor-Wimpey will cut off a path linking the town centre and Ivanhoe School to housing estates on Nottingham Road.

The newly-elected Town and District councillor says the path will be closed off next Monday - but residents have been given only a few days' notice that it was about to happen.

Now, says Cllr Blair-Park, people will have to walk along the congested Nottingham Road instead.

He feels that is a dangerous situation for people who had been using the safe pedestrian route behind houses on Nottingham Road.

It is also uncertain as to when the path would be re-opened again, with the feeling that it will not be usable next September when school pupils return from the summer break.

Cllr Blair-Park told Ashby Nub News: "There was less than a week's notice that this was going to happen.

"It could've been delayed until the schools had broken up, but now children are going to have to use Nottingham Road.

A sign was put up on Friday morning informing residents of the new diversion

"Not just them, it's anyone who regularly uses the path to and from the town.

"The width of the pavement on Nottingham Road is quite narrow, and clearly there is a not of traffic on that route. So it is dangerous for people who are not used to that stretch of road.

"There is a sign up warning of this closure, but it's not widely known that it's about to happen next week.

"It's another example of companies like Taylor-Wimpey showing little consideration for the people who already live here, it's an unacceptable situation for them."

Cllr Blair-Park, who was elected to represent Labour and Co-operative for the Money Hill ward in the May polls, says the new-look Town Council will engage more with Taylor-Wimpey and Blood Homes who are building the new 605-home estate.

He added: "There's a new administration in place now in Ashby and we will address issues such as this one in Money Hill."