CAMPAIGNERS are demanding that a recently blocked footpath to a health centre used by generations of residents is established as a right of way.

Two weeks ago, patients tried to access the path leading from Borders Lane to Rectory Lane Health Centre in Loughton and found their route blocked by a wooden fence built by developer Sav Atkar, who is building a new 72 bedroom care home on the site of the old Loughton Sports Centre.

Mr Atkar claims that he would be unable to ensure the safety of pedestrians walking through the site whilst construction is going on and is refusing to reopen the path until work is complete.

He said: ““This is not currently a public way, it is private property.

“We found asbestos in the old sports centre site which we are demolishing and cannot allow the public to walk through there while work is being completed because we can’t ensure their safety.”

“We intend to open it up again as soon as the building is finished.”

Residents argue that footpath has been used by the public for over three decades, and are demanding that Essex County Council make the route a formal right of way, protecting it against future obstructions.

Margaret Weston, 78, of Barrington Green in Loughton, is one of the residents fighting for the path to be protected.

She said: “I have been using the path since I first moved here about 50 years ago. Elderly people use it to get to the health centre all of the time as do young mums. It allows them to get to the health centre so much more easily and quickly than they could otherwise.

“A formal right of way needs to be established to make sure that it is open once this new building is finished.”

Epping Forest District Councillor Lance Leonard said: “Lots of people have come forward with stories of using this path up to 50 or 60 years ago and calling it the Humps and Bumps, which we will submit as evidence “I think that is it very important that this route is formally protected.”