CAMPAIGNERS are hoping to make a well-used Hadleigh walkway an official footpath after it was closed by a council.

Residents wanting to get between High Street and London Road have been walking between the former Crown pub and the town’s library for more than 70 years.

However, in June the footpath was sealed off after Castle Point Council leased out land in front of the Crown to supermarket giant Morrisons.

The aim was to use the area to store equipment and materials for the new superstore, being built in London Road.

The move has forced people wanting to go between High Street and London Road to take a longer route, roughly about 200 metres extra. That is unless they know about a more convoluted cut-through near the library, which is not an official footpath.

Campaigners are hoping to register the walkway as a public footpath to make sure it is reopened. Royston Brackin, of Solby’s Lane, Hadleigh, said: “The footpath is important, particularly for older people.”

Morrisons is planning to leave the site once the construction project is finished next summer. However, campaigners fear the council is intent on shutting off the walkway for good as part of its regeneration proposals for Hadleigh town centre.

Mr Brackin and his supporters are writing to Essex County Council to register the cut-through as a public footpath.

However, if the application is challenged it could be determined by a public inquiry.

Mr Brackin added: “If we don’t take action now we could end up losing this right of way.”

A spokeswoman for Castle Point Council said a new walkway would be provided as part of the redevelopment of the Crown site.