Ashby de la Zouch Town Council has called for the footpath from the new Money Hill development, to the town centre, to be upgraded as soon as possible. 

A car park for 150 vehicles on the site is to be completed soon, and people will start moving into new houses without what the council says is a satisfactory resolution to creating a safe walking and cycling route into the town centre.

As part of the Money Hill planning application, it was agreed that the developer would enhance the footpath on its land, and provide money for Leicestershire County Council to enhance the continuation of the footpath through Wainwright's lorry yard and on to North Street. 

But the council says this would need the agreement of the owner, Mr Tom Wainwright.

The footpath will be completed across the developer's land, but councillors say little progress has been made across Wainwright's yard. 

Ashby Nub News has contacted Mr Wainwright and understands that the matter is currently the subject of legal action with the landowner feeling the matter has been forced upon him.

Ashby Town Council says the problem is that the end of the footpath on North Street is also used by lorries driving in and out of the yard. 

Lorries are also parked close to the line of the footpath and the Council feels that, at the moment, it is not a safe route for accessing schools or the town centre.

Both parties share safety concerns about the introduction of an improved, wider, pathway designed for pedestrians and cyclists.

Mr Wainwright, whose yard has been doing business for decades, is believed to be concerned that the new housing estate is currently being built with the pathway issue still undecided.

At last week's Town Council Planning and Transport committee, chair of the committee, Cllr David Bigby, said: "I am publicly calling for Mr Wainwright to negotiate a satisfactory solution to allow a safe public footpath and cycleway across his land between North Street and the new cycleway from the new Money Hill car park."

The committee felt that, without the co-operation of the landowner, Mr Wainwright, it is difficult to see how a safe route can be created. 

The County Council has discussed this issue with Mr Wainwright, but says there has been no progress. 

It is understood that the landowner believes he has done nothing wrong.

But the council adds there are few powers to force the landowner to create a safe route, although the owner is liable for the safety of the public on his land.

Cllr Murrae Blair-Park, Town and District Councillor for Money Hill, went on to say: "This is very frustrating. The need for a safe route is clear. 

"The money is available to do it. We just need some cooperation from the landowner to reach a satisfactory solution."