The long-running debate over the footpath linking the new Money Hill estate with Ashby Town Centre remains a problem, councillors were told this week.

A pathway designed to encourage people to walk from the soon-to-be-opened 150-space car park - and the 605-home development - has yet to be completed.

The route should take pedestrians from the Money Hill area to North Street - but it runs through Wainwright's Yard which caters for vans and lorries.

Mr Tom Wainwright's nephew David, attended Monday's meeting of Ashby de la Zouch Town Council to try and find a way of making the pathway workable.

But ward councillor Cllr Murrae Blair-Park told the committee: "The assumption is that it'll sort itself out.

"I've been there two or three times and we've followed the Leicestershire County Council process.

"But we're picking up the mess that was left before in terms of this.

"However we package it, the planning for the 605 houses was granted in 2016, and that's when the 'community centre' was included.

"Since then, myself and Cllr David Bigby have discovered it's not going to be a community centre.

"Whatever co-operation we can get from the County Council or the developers, we still have a problem.

"That is 150 parking spaces and it's the main route for the 605 houses to get into town.

"We need to come up with a solution. We have to ask what the landowner wants to do.

"But we've had two meetings with the County Council and made it clear that the facility is not fit for purpose.

"If you turn up with a pram, a wheelchair, you can't get through, little kids would have to be kept on reins.

"I don't see any blame with anyone, I just want to see a solution. It's about trying to get the right people round the table.

"It's my ward, and it drives me around the bend every day.

"This is a significant element of the development. As a Town Council, we'll do what we can within our remit.

"It will come home to roost at some stage. We need to do something sooner or later so we can get a sense of where we are."

Cllr Carl Benfield made the point that the exit of the path is not safe where it meets North Street.

But committee chair Cllr Bigby added: "I have suggested there is room on the verge past the sub-station to put a cycleway there.

"There is also a hedge that can be removed. These are things I'd like to see the County Council doing. I think we should keep pushing that.

"I'd like it to make it clear the Town Council has been doing all we can to get a solution to this, and will continue to do so. I'd be happy to get everyone together, the District Council, County Council, Mr Wainwright and the school, to try and find a solution."

Council leader Cllr Smith proposed that the Town Council should gather people's feelings about the situation - with a petition being suggested.

He said: "That's something the County Council would take into account."

But Cllr Rita Manning said it had to be more general rather than focus on one particular area.

The idea of a questionnaire and survey was also put forward and taken on board.