RESIDENTS who believe their privacy could be compromised by a planned footpath say they ‘should have been consulted’ by the council.

Those living on Kirkby Lonsdale’s Master’s Grange development have hit out at the town council, saying they were given no warning before plans were submitted to South Lakeland District Council, for a tarmac path past the back of their homes.

“I moved in last year and haven’t heard anything about this until now,” said Sean Murphy, of Croft Close.

“I bought the house with an open aspect at the back and now we’re being told this footpath could be built 20 feet from our kitchen window.

“I don’t think there’s any need for this path and I’d like to have had some say in it.”

In an email to SLDC, Mr and Mrs Johnson, also of Croft Close, said: “The residents of Masters Grange have not been consulted on this proposal... This does feel as a community as though this is being done to us, rather than with us.

“As responsible neighbours to the schools we could have worked with them and other key stakeholders to reach a solution which would have benefited the community as a whole.”

And Michael and Sheila Curtis, of Defoe Drive, said: “We had no pre-consultation nor information as to the proposal despite living at the west end of the proposed path and being one of the properties most affected.”

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The plans are for a footpath, along an area of grass, from the end of Defoe Drive to Wellington Court. They are supported by the town’s civic society, which says the path will create ‘a safe walking and cycling route’ from the new housing development to Booth’s supermarket.

It is part of the Safer Routes to School initiative, providing better pedestrian access to Queen Elizabeth and St Mary’s Primary schools.

Chair of Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council Allan Muirhead said: “All procedure has been followed and we at the town council are trying to do the best for the town.”