A SIDMOUTH representative has asked East Devon District Council (EDDC) to dedicate footpaths in the grounds of its Knowle headquarters as public rights of way.

Town, district and county councillor, Stuart Hughes, says residents’ fears over the consequences of the authority’s possible relocation to Honiton sparked the request.

He told the Herald: “I’m getting the ball rolling on this. There is a lot of concern out there.”

EDDC’s proposed move, yet to be decided on, has sparked fears for valued parkland at Knowle (see story on page 8).

Councillor Hughes took advice from his public rights of way colleagues at County Hall and asked EDDC’s chiefsexecutive to consider the footpath move.

He said EDDC lawyers needed to contact county officers and there had already been a number of queries from residents about how to make the paths public rights of way.

An EDDC spokesman said the request would be reported to the relevant department.